I wonder how many Malaysians realised that the recent advertisement campaign run by the Barisan Nasional government to clarify the water spat between Malaysia and Singapore was in effect a slap to its own face?

Just look at some of the screaming slogans:

"In 2001, Singapore paid RM2.4 million to Malaysia for raw water, but makes a profit of RM662.5 million out of this raw water. So Malaysia gets nothing, while Singapore gets rich!"

"In 2002, affluent Singapore subsidised Malaysia RM26.5 million through the sale of processed water, but developing Malaysia subsidised Singapore RM478.4 million through the sale of raw water. So who's generous, and who's mean?"

Going through the sloganeering which repeatedly harps on the three sen per 1,000 gallons of raw water price, one could hardly resist the conclusion that this water agreement must have ranked among the most one-sided international treaty between states in recent memory.

The BN leadership is in effect telling the world how stupid the Malaysian government was in forging this water deal.

And who were the traitors who sold out Malaysia's interests then? Believe it or not, it is the same Umno-led government who has ruled this country since day one of our independence in 1957.

But do you believe that our forefathers could be as stupid as portrayed by the present leaders now? Or, is it possible that our present leaders have distorted the picture, that the water agreements signed in 1961 and 1962 were in fact sensible covenants that benefit both Malaysia and Singapore?

You cannot have the cake and eat it. Either the Umno-led government is lying now, or it had acted as damned fools then.

For heaven's sake, please be truthful for once!