In the article 'KL team set for tribunal's oral hearings' dated Sept 20, the Straits Times of Singapore, stated that Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed disappointment if Malaysia decides to take the dispute over Singapore's reclamation work at Pulau Tekong and Tuas to the International Tribunal For The Law Of The Sea.

Malaysia's was said to have "alleged that such works were causing 'serious and irreversible damage to the marine environment and serious prejudice' to its rights."

Whereas the same report was kinder to Singapore's own Foreign Ministry statement: "The Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the republic had 'provided Malaysia with technical reports and explained in detail that our studies indicate that no significant adverse effects would result from our reclamation works'."

Technical reports and explanations are really no more than just that! As are Malaysian "allegations" which were obviously substantiated by their own studies. So what we have here is Singapore's technical reports and explanations which obviously were not necessarily backed up by the conclusions drawn up by Malaysia's as basis for their allegations.

If on the matter of the water woes Singapore was intent on passing the resolution of the dispute to the tribunals, why is it that in this instance they prefer negotiations? Shortly after the recent round of the water dispute, would it not be quite natural for Malaysia to not waste time talking to Singapore? After all, it is always assumed by them that only their position is the correct one.

Indeed, each and every point raised by Malaysia on just about any issue is ridiculed or cast into oblivion by Singapore and Singaporeans alike, as if they are the only ones ordained with the truth and that they are not capable of mischief.

Even if they are right, it is this patronising attitude that Singapore takes that Malaysians find disgusting. Maybe they should wonder why New Zealand would rather reject Singapore Airlines' offer to take on a significant stake in Air New Zealand. Knowing well that this would give it a badly needed shot in the arm, Air New Zealand would rather go around shopping for prospective saviours from amongst Western Airlines!