Singapore ‘playing for time’ in water dispute with Malaysia: Daim Zainuddin
- Malaysian government adviser says the city state may be using a delaying tactic as it heads towards self-sufficiency in its water supplies
- He says the Lion City’s stance on the long-standing dispute is a ‘major development’
Malaysian government adviser Daim Zainuddin has said neighbouring Singapore’s recent willingness to hold talks on the price it pays Kuala Lumpur for water – a long-standing sticking point – is a “major development” in the warming of ties after a diplomatic spat last year.
However, he also believes the Lion City may be stalling for time as it heads towards self-sufficiency in its water supplies.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Daim echoed conciliatory comments made by the leaders of the two countries at an annual retreat last month.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in that closely watched meeting had sought to emphasise that their countries had agreed to find middle ground over a range of issues that sparked a war of words in December and January and sunk the relationship to a multi-decade low. The neighbours have had a testy, albeit largely peaceful, relationship since they acrimoniously split in 1965.
Daim said that during a recent private visit to the Lion City, the Singaporean leaders that he had met had struck an upbeat note.