Defending water

Lee Kuan Yew's Other Legacy: Why Singapore Has One Of The World's Toughest Militaries...

When founding father Lee Kuan Yew died at age 91, he left Singaporeans with one of the most formidable armies in the world., wrote the International Business Times.

The respected defense publication IHS Jane’s called the Singapore Armed Forces “the best-equipped military in Southeast Asia.”...

SINGAPORE'S UTTER DEPENDENCE ON MALAYSIA FOR WATER

When Singapore broke off in 1965 from the Federation of Malaya, Lee wanted the new nation to be able to defend itself from its northern neighbor, which later became Malaysia and with which it had until recently a contentious relationship.

“It had to do with Singapore’s utter dependence on Malaysia for sources of potable water,” said Bernard Loo, associate professor of strategic studies at Nanyang Technological. “Malaysian leaders in the past were not averse to threatening to cut off the water supplies to Singapore, if the latter did anything inimicable to Malaysia’s interests.”

(Source: International Business Times, http://bit.ly/1E1Kn1g)

Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman tried to use three levers — the military, economy and water — to force Singapore to follow Malaysia’s lead.

STOKING UP GROUND FEELINGS IN 2002

In 2002 Dr Mahathir and several Malaysian politicians stoked up ground feelings by making serious allegations about the Water Agreements.

These included:

That the Water Agreements had been drawn up by the British in favour of Singapore when it was about to join Malaysia in the 1960s;

That Singapore buys water from Malaysia at 3 sen and sells to ships at S$20 or RM40, thus making enormous profits of up to RM700 million annually;

That Singapore profits by buying water from Malaysia at 3 sen and selling it back to Johor at 50 sen;

That the Water Agreement is only 'an ancient piece of paper' and Malaysia can raise the price anytime it wants;

That Malaysia can pass its own laws to make the Water Agreements null and void.

This barrage of statements seemed intended to make the public case that the Water Agreements had been foisted on Malaysia by the British and were intrinsically unfair to Malaysia and that Singapore had profiteered at Malaysia's expense.

They appeared to be laying the ground for unilateral action.

In December 2002, FM Syed Hamid even said publicly that 'Singapore has two choices. If it refuses to compromise, go to war'.

(Source: Prof Tommy Koh http://bit.ly/2maP1ok)

Faced with a drought in 2002, there were suggestions that water supplies to Singapore should be reduced.

"The government should look after the interests of thirsty Malaysians first," said a letter in Malaysia's Star newspaper. "If we have to make do with less water, Singapore should also be asked to make do with less."

Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding father, has warned that any cut- off of Malaysian water could lead to "serious consequences", which some in Kuala Lumpur have interpreted as a threat of military action.

(Source: March 6, 2002, Financial Times, London: Malaysia puts the screw on Singapore over water)

HIGH TIME TO MOVE AWAY FROM RELIANCE ON MALAYSIA FOR WATER: GOH CHOK TONG

On April 5, 2002, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong told Parliament, ''It is high time we explore a different approach to water supply from Malaysia."

Goh said the sensitivity of the water issue dated back to Singapore's separation from Malaysia.

He quoted Malaysian's prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in 1965 as saying: ''If Singapore's foreign policy is prejudicial to Malaysia's interests, we could always bring pressure to bear on them by threatening to turn off the water in Johor.''

''Time has not changed this perception that water is to be used as leverage against Singapore,'' he added.

Those were the days.