SINGAPORE: The Republic is not in any talks with its Malaysian counterpart regarding renegotiations of water prices, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Tuesday.
He was speaking to the media during a tour of the Changi Water Reclamation Plant. Asked whether Malaysia has approached Singapore officially regarding the water issue, and whether Singapore is in talks with Malaysia, Teo's reply was "no". He did not elaborate.
Teo's comments on Tuesday came amid suggestions made by Malaysia's Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that his country is selling water to Singapore at too low a price.
Dr Mahathir suggested on Aug 13 that water prices to Singapore should be raised by at least 10 times, doubling down on his earlier comments in June that water is among issues with Singapore "that we need to settle".
After Dr Mahathir's comments in June, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said there was still scope for a review of the water deal between Singapore and Malaysia.
Singapore has stood firm that both countries have to adhere to the agreed terms relating to water prices. Commenting on the issue for the first time at the National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that while Singapore appreciates the new Malaysia government's reasons to review and change various policies of the previous administration, the 1962 Water Agreement between the two neighbours is "sacrosanct".
"We must proceed strictly in accordance with its terms," he said.—TODAY ONLINE