KUALA LUMPUR • Malaysia's relationship with Singapore is unlikely to be affected by the recent suggestion by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad that the price of water sold to the city state will increase by more than 10 times, said his deputy.
interview with the Malay Mail published yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail belated Tun Dr Mahathir's remarks, saying that the water problem is "nothing new" and has been going on for decades.
"His approach is his approach." Dr. Mahathir has a different style in dealing with things, but at the same time Singapore is our neighbor – they understand us in a certain way. So as neighbors we must be warm. The problem of water has long been known, "she said.]" It's nothing new, Singapore understands that and how to deal with it (the issue). "
Under the Water Agreement of 1962 between the two countries that expire in 2061, Singapore has the right to make up to 250 million gallons per day (mgd) of water from the Johor River at 3 sen (1 Singapore cent) per 1,000 gallons. the right to buy 5 mgd of treated water from Singapore with 50 sen per 1,000 gallons Singapore has said that this price is heavily subsidized and below the cost of treating the water.
Dr Mahathir said on Monday that he was pricing to increase the supply of untreated water to Singapore by more than 10 times to reflect the higher cost of living, he made similar suggestions in 1987 and 1998 – during his first stint as prime minister – but Malaysia chose not to revisit prices and.
The decades-old issue reappeared in June, a month after Dr. Mahathir became prime minister for the second time. when he described the price at which Malaysia sells raw water to the island as "ridiculous" to the Republic.
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