Singapore celebrated its 37th independence from Malaysia yesterday(9 August)with a big bang-the economy expected to improved in the next 24 months with a modest 3 percent growth .It is a justified to say that Singaporeans wont be able to see their 7-8 percent figures (which they used to enjoyed)for the next 10 years or so.
Singapore PM Mr Goh Chok Tong -made a official statements last month challenging their northern neighbours to take a military action against the island republic.Reason? Only those involved in special operations/intell would know the full story-yet it is likely the were offended by MAF recent ‘show of force’exercise near the to their border/water.The most high profile exercise would be the firing of ASTROS II MLRS /G5 155 mm howitzer in the southern part of Malaysia.This exercise aimed to gauged MAF weapons systems in order to counter any act of aggression from SAF or others.
As a result of that Singapore govt decided not to resume one of two water deal with Malaysia-the deal with expired by 2011.Malaysia PM in return welcome the move cause all this while Malaysia always assumed the water deal more as a favour than a trade-Malaysia sold 1000 gallons of raw water at RM 3 cents and buy back processed water at RM 42 (US 12)per 1000 gallons.Malaysia make a huge lost by selling water to Singapore but since Singapore were part of ASEAN -we are willing to helped them in that dept.Singaporean will start consuming their recycled toilet water soon.
It is interesting to note that a day before Singaporean celebrated their National Day Malaysian PM met with Indonesian President in Bali to discuss certain matters.To make things worst RMAF/IAF held a joint air exercise in Indonesia beginning yesterday which kept RSAF on its toes.Malaysia/Indonesia joint exercise during their National Day always have created a sense of alertness among the Singaporeans – a previous joint exercise were postponed after Singaporeans voiced out their concern to the repective diplomatic channels.
MAF since last 2 weeks has conducted a mechanised/armour exercise near the border -codename JENGKING + In October a massive joint service exercise are planned to further increased MAF state of readiness.MAF issued a statement a day ago -they will increase the military exercise budget by 45 percent.
Do I smell something???????????
By: crxiong353 - 18th August 2002 at 10:42
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
Tomel, please read my post carefully. It is a fact, not nonsense.The Johor state government could have re-examined the charges in 1986 and 1987 when rates for raw water purchased by Singapore and treated water purchased by Johor were up for review. However the Johor state government has chosen not to review the price of water sold to Singapore.In case, you do not understand, the British, who started and created the deal allowed the deal to be reviewed by both Malaysia and Singapore in the year 1986. This means that changes can be made to the deal in 1986. Unfortunately, Malaysia did not voice out any opposition to the deal that time. . Thus, I say that Singapore is kind enough to allow the deal to be changed and reviewed when Malaysia wanted to increase the price in 2002, 16 years after the deadline. Singapore shows that it is willing to change the price of water when it said it wanted the price to be pegged to the price of NEwater. It has also offered to pay Malaysia 60 sen (16 US cents) per thousand gallons, with the price to be adjusted for inflation every five years, in any new agreement. However, Malaysia has rejected it time and again and wants a price higher.
By: tomel - 18th August 2002 at 04:34
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
crxiong353,
What kind of nonsense is this???
Singapore wanted to review the water deal?When?What kind of proof could you provide to support such statements?Malaysia always wants to help Singapore but the price must be realistic!!!
Imagine selling 1000 g of water for a mere US 0.1 cents and Malaysia buy back clean water at US 10.00.This is a fact and you can easily obtained details from various Malaysian news websites such as Bernama.com(national press agency).What can you buy with US 0.1cents and 1000 g is a lot of water to waste for just that amount.Malaysia wanted to increase the price a bit -app US 1.00-still your govt do not agree with it.Half of water supplied to Singapore were sold back to ships at a higher price US 35.00 per 1000 g.That’s a fact not fiction.
By: crxiong353 - 18th August 2002 at 04:01
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
Tomel, a Malaysia politician once said that Malaysia will continue to provide water to Singapore only if Malaysia needs are satisfied first. True frendship is evident only 1)if Malaysia values its agreements. The water deals were signed many years ago. The deals provide provision for reviewing only in 1986. However Malaysia did not show any signs that it wanted to review the water deal. Singapore was actually kind enough to allow the price of water to be reviewed some 16 years later. 2)if Malaysia do not use water as a bargaining power in bilateral discussions. Many a times, Malaysia has use Singapore’s dependancy on Malaysia’s water to win in negotiations. Singapore is now tired of such bargaining power Malaysia has, and so, it has opted for recycled water. Another reason why Singapore opted for recycled water is because MNCs in Singapore has long wanted Singapore to be self-sufficient in its water supply.
Seahawk, I can only agree with your post.
By: tomel - 17th August 2002 at 02:05
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
seahawk,
No doubt recycled water is quite good for human used-still for a nation which could buy a fresh ones at mere US.50 cents per 1000 gallons but yet opted to spend millions on RD for toilet water-i just dont see the rational in it.
For the record Singapore were charged app US.0.1 cents per 1000 gallons by Malaysia since 1927.
crxiong353,
Malacca did faced with a water shortages after the rain failed to show up (for about 2 months-ElNino effect)-still we could sourced water from Pahang/Johore and Singapore still received the same amount.
Now that’s what i call true friendships-would Singaporeans do the same thing if the table were turned????I doubt it.Reasons -just look at the recent Asian economic downturn-check your local news+Malaysian/Indonesian press release.;-)
By: seahawk - 16th August 2002 at 08:43
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
As I posted already on another thread. I´m working in the buisnnes and there is no problem in turning sewer water into drinking water.
In the part of Germany where I do live water is recycled about 5 times. And we can say that we without any doubts have one of the highest standards for drinking water in the world.
It is all a matter of polution control and how you treat your sewage water. If you treat it to todays technological possiblities it is as clear as normal river water (unpoluted river water).
Recycling water is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of technology advancement, and resources protection. It is much more sensefull then taking more clear raw water. That water has to be treated after use anywhere, if you do not want to risk a long time impact on your water resources anyway.
By: crxiong353 - 16th August 2002 at 06:17
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
Tomel, i’m sure Malaysia did had a water shortage a few years back. Water level at reservoirs dropped drasticaaly. I just can’t remember which state it was.
By: tomel - 16th August 2002 at 03:40
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
crxiong 353,
No offence but your statements regarding Malaysian have to used recycled water in the near future-simply does not make sense.Have you ever been to my country?
Did you failed to notice Malaysian vast water resources?How the hell could we supplied you with cheap water all this while if we do not have enough for ourselves?Do you have any fact to support your claim?Do you well aware about Malaysia wetlands policy?:-)
RSAF will select the so call upgraded F15SU inline with its JSF/F22 programmes.Korea ,Saudi and Singapore are all have eyes on the JSF/F22-but they have to used the tail end technology first before the more advanced aircrafts could be deliver in the next 10-15 years or so.You see the US is very good in this kind of stuffs(RMAF has faced the same scenarios recently while selecting the MRCA finalist-F15E were offered).
By the way -in the next few months -Singaporeans will have the chance to witness MAF offensive capabilities (piecemeal method)cause the so call exercise will be conducted near your country border.Now ,if i recalled correctly- Mr Goh is the ones who asked his northern neighbours to take any military action against Singapore-pls refer to ST press release.
By: crxiong353 - 12th August 2002 at 10:27
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 12-08-02 AT 10:28 AM (GMT)]Azhar, do you know that Malaysians as well as people from the rest of the world has been drinking mud water, toilet water and other kinds of dirty fluid? This is because nature has purified such dirty water to clean water for one and all to quench their thirst. I have heard that Malaysia plans to send a astronaut to space. If this really happens, he will drink recycled water too. All astronauts drink recycled water. Recycling water is due to the problem of over-population and urbanisation. If such problem do exist in the future, Malaysia would turn to recycling water{Toilet Water}.
Tomel, as you have said earlier, IAF and RMAF is planning a joint air exercise. This could just be a strike on Singapore in disguise. So that not to be caught asleep, Singapore must increase its patrols. I’m sure many other countries do go on alert if their neighbouring countries hold an exercise. Besides you have said that MAF since last 2 weeks has conducted a mechanised/armour exercise near the border between Singapore and Malaysia. Training right at our doorstep when Malaysia has such a great land mass? There must be somerthing fishy. Thus, the armed forces have to go on alert.
I have already posted on the forum long ago that the Typhoon and Rafale are the most likely contenders for the fighter competition. People in the air force have also agreed with me when I asked them this question. When did I said the Su-30 will be seleted? F-15 and F-16 C/D block 60 are unlikely to be selected as firstly, RSAF combat tyes are mostly american and american types will not be chosen so as to diversy its arsenal. Secondly, these are old designs, especially the F-15 and would RSAF select an old design which would last it for the next thirty years? I believe 99% that either the Rafale or the Eurofighter will be selected.
By the way, the variant F-15S to be given to Singapore’s F-15 is unlikely as F-15S is already given to Saudi’s F-15E.
By: tomel - 10th August 2002 at 15:50
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
crxiong 353,
Do you know since last month SAF has increased their patrol -in order to deter any unwelcome visitors.
Rumours has it-MAF special ops operators have managed to conduct a real time anti VIPERS exercise recently.
Maybe the water deal are a bit ‘lame’ after this-but dont forget RSAF still begging for the use of Malaysian airspace.
By the way -RSAF wont buy the SU -believe me -it will be F15S and more F16s.
By: Azhar - 10th August 2002 at 14:27
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
All they had to do was agree to a decent price for the water but rather than swallow their pride they’d rather swallow something else…
Anyway just hope the Malaysian negotiators watch what they drink when in Singapore next month!
Regards
By: crxiong353 - 10th August 2002 at 09:13
RE: Singapore – political and strategic overview.
The first reason why Singapore does not want to buy water from Malaysia is because Malaysia keeps threatening Singapore over biliateral issues with water. All this while, Malaysia uses water as a bargaining power{You don’t listen to me, i will shut off the water and let you die of thirst}. This has been the mentality of Malaysian negotiators at talks with Singapore. As singapore is tired of Malaysians threats time and again, Singapore has decided to rely less on Malaysia on water.
The second reason why Singapore wants to stop buying water from Singapore is because Singapore has Newater, a recycled water. And mind you, ours is pure recycled water. Internationally recognised scientists have announced that the water is safe to drink. The recycled water is so clean that it has to be mixed with reservoir water before being channeled to homes. The project is highly sucessful and it shows that Singapore has some advanced technoogy its neghbour does not have. Not only does Singapore uses recycled water. Highly developed countries such as Netherlands and USA uses recycled water. The world should be laughing at the world’s only superpower as its some of its citizens are drinking toilet water. However, no laughs have been heard. Everyone should be proud men’s invention of such technology and not be jealous that such technology has not been used or arrived at some countries.
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August 10, 2002 at 2:27 am