I refer to the letter by LCH and his acidic evaluation of the advertisement on the friction with Singapore over the water issue.

LCH's opinion is just one side of the coin. I must say that rather than feeling insulted by the advertisement, I am more informed of what actually happened between the two governments.

On the other hand, I was insulted by LCH's assertion that the advertisements were means of brainwashing the people, as this implies that we Malaysians are an intellectually deprived lot, resulting in us being easily brainwashed.

The advertisements tell us several things. Firstly, there is the possibility that Singapore has been taking an economic advantage of our neighbourliness. Would LCH like it if I were to buy water from him for peanuts, process it, then sell it off at an exorbitant price to his family members?

Secondly, there is the implication that the government is now taking steps to make right what seems to have been going wrong all this while in its relationship with Singapore. But why now? Could it be due to the government's incompetence? I don't think so.

Instead, time was given to Singapore to make positive steps in sealing a good relationship with Malaysia. Unfortunately, Singapore has made a wrong diplomatic decision and it is only justified that Malaysia should respond.

If anyone should dispute the facts given in the newspapers, it should be the Singapore government, but I do not hear of any responses from them over the mass media.

A final word. LCH commented that the Malaysian government does not seem to have a real grasp of how to move forward. On the contrary, Malaysia has its vision, plans and objectives. The government is moving forward, but it is the destructive opposition parties and people like LCH with a very monocular thinking that prevents the country from progressing.