Several development plans in Singapore and Malaysia have been highlighted in a series of correspondence between leaders of both countries which have been published in a controversial book on bilateral water talks.

The book, Water Talks? If Only It Could, was published by the Singapore Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts to relate its side of the story regarding the stalemate over negotiations on a series of outstanding bilateral disputes.

In it, it accused Malaysia of 'shifting goalposts' on negotiations over bilateral issues - a charge denied by Kuala Lumpur - and included as 'evidence' letters exchanged between Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Aside from discussion over the price of water sold to Singapore, the two leaders also touched upon future development plans which are likely to affect bilateral land linkages and international shipping.

Reclamation row

Among the key proposals linked to the water deal, Singapore said it intends to undertake land reclamation all the way up till its maritime border with Malaysia at the Johor Causeway.

Singapore earlier disagreed with the demolition of the causeway saying that it might cause "public outcry" for the historical bridge to be replaced with "a beautifully designed bridge but one that will lead to increased toll charges".

Malaysia is expected to reject these plans, although this issue has not been addressed by government leaders. Mahathir had earlier announced plans to elevate Malaysia's side of the Johor Causeway so as to facilitate international shipping headed for Johor's Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP).

Last year, both countries also exchanged heated accusations over Singapore's land reclamation project at Pulau Tokong close to the eastern tip of Johor.

Malaysia has opposed the project as deliberate obstruction of shipping while Singapore has said that it is entitled to do as it wishes within its own territory.

No rail link

Meanwhile, Malaysia appeared to have thrown a damper over Singapore's suggestion for the relocation of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) station in Tanjung Pagar, at its Keppel port area, to Kranji in the northern part of the island.

In an Aug 24, 2000, letter to former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, Lee said Singapore wants an upgraded KTM rail service to run in an underground tunnel for 9km from Johor to Kranji.

However, Mahathir later said that these are subjected to review as Malaysia may not extend its upgraded rail service into Singapore.

"In the light of uncertainties in the international economic environment and the cost of building the rail tunnel and bridge, my economic advisers have advised me that it would make more sense to end the rail service in Johor Bahru," the premier said in a Oct 18, 2001, letter to Lee.

Last week, the Edge reported that PTP tycoon Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary (left) is interested in purchasing KTM from the government to add to his growing infrastructure empire to challenge Singapore's dominance in regional transportation services.

Syed Mokhtar is said to be in the midst of taking over Johor's Senai Airport.

Letters controversy

The dispute between Malaysia and Singapore over the price of water started last year when Mahathir called for a readjustment of the present value of 3 sen per thousand gallons.

During negotiations last year, several offers were raised by Malaysia ranging from 45 sen per thousand gallons to 60 sen.

In the book, Singapore claimed that Malaysia had failed to abide by its own proposals - agreed by Singapore - for the price to be raised to 45 sen.

Mahathir, in turn, had written to Lee saying that the price had to be reconsidered as he was not aware of the full details of the water agreements and that any discussed value would have to be approved by Johor state authorities.

Bilateral relations between the two sides have also been severely strained when the 84-page volume was published in January without Mahathir's knowledge that his letters would be made public as well.

The matter has arisen again following a review of the book yesterday by Utusan Malaysia columnist Awang Selamat.

In a report today, Utusan reported Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar as saying that Malaysia would be publishing its own booklet to present its views on the matter.

The Foreign Minister also said Malaysia is uninterested in resuming talks with Singapore over the water issue until Singapore is willing to accept a fair and just agreement.