Dr Ong Chit Chung: First, I want to thank the Minister for his most comprehensive and full answer on Malaysia-Singapore relations. It is clear from the presentation given this afternoon that Singapore is most reasonable, most accommodative and most patient in our negotiations with Malaysia.

I want to ask the Minister whether the Malaysians understand and know the sanctity of international agreements made by them with other countries. Or do they deliberately choose to ignore this? And, if so, what is their motive?

With Malaysia chopping and changing its position time and time again, all the time, how would Singapore engage meaningfully in negotiations with Malaysia? We would like to know, although the Minister has mentioned, what is next? Is there any date or time-table in mind or is it going to be just a vacuum?

In particular, I would ask the Minister to comment on the announcement that Johor said that they would cease buying treated water from Singapore from mid-2003 onwards, after their own water treatment plant has been completed. What would be our response to this?

Answer: Dr Ong Chit Chung asked several questions whether they know of the importance of the sanctity of the Water Agreements and so on. From my statement, Members will realise that I have given enough quotations. 

Some old, like Mr Ariff, the representative of the Vienna Conference on the Law of Treaties, 1968, that he was telling the representatives of the whole world that the Separation Agreement and the Water Agreements are very good examples of how agreements or special agreements that cannot be suspended or terminated for any political reason, and to what Foreign Minister Mr Syed Hamid said last year that they continue to honour the agreements. So these statements indicate, but you have to contrast with some of the other statements which I mentioned in early 2002.

What is the motive for making all the statements? I think that is in the realm of speculation. What is important for us is not so much speculation but for us to state what are the implications which I have done and what is Singapore's position, which is what I have also done. That is, we cannot allow treaties solemnly entered into to be lightly disregarded or contravened.

And if we allow Malaysia to unilaterally change or alter important provisions of an agreement so critical as the Separation Agreement, then where will all this end? Are we expected to quietly accept any other revisions of critical provisions of the Separation Agreement or any other agreement? So, that is why we have to state our position very clearly.