http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/30949/1/.htmlMalaysia still wants to use domestic law to break impasse over water issue
By Malaysia Bureau Chief Zainudin Afandi
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Singapore had no right to question the proposal by a Malaysian Minister to enact a domestic law which might alter or scrap the 1961 and 1962 Water Agreements with Singapore.
He said Malaysia was looking at all avenues to break the impasse since talks have broken down.
Mr Syed Hamid has accused his Singapore counterpart of making misleading statements over the water issue.
For example, he said neither he nor Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had ever said that Malaysia wanted to take the stalemate over the water issue to international arbitration at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at the Hague.
"It is very clear that we want to find a solution. But if we cannot, we go to the agreement which provides for arbitration according to the laws of Johor. So, how can I talk about PCA or for that matter Dr Mahathir. Quoting newspapers as the final and conclusive that we've taken is not right," he said.
Singapore's Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar had quoted Berita Harian Malaysia as saying the two Malaysian leaders had talked about referring the matter to the PCA, but to his surprise, Mr Syed Hamid later said this option did not arise.
Singapore, however, has agreed to let the water issue be settled through arbitration according to the laws of Johor.
Mr Syed Hamid also said Malaysia would do whatever it can through its domestic laws to bridge the impasse.
Malaysian Minister in the PMÂ’s Department Rais Yatim had said on 24 October 2002 that Malaysia could enact domestic legislation to render the Water Agreements null and void.
Mr Syed Hamid said: "Now that since there is a breakdown of talks, no party would consider themselves as bound to anything.
"What laws we're going to do is within our domestic and sovereign domain. It's not for anybody to question whether it's applicable or not. It's not something that people should question.
"And I think as a minister responsible for law, he can make statement to say that he wants to change certain certain law. What would the effect of that law on some agreements that we've entered is something else. You've all the right to challenge, but you cannot stop us from doing something that is within our domestic and sovereign rights."
Professor Jayakumar had said in Parliament on January 25: "No country can evade its international treaty obligations by enacting any domestic law. This is a very well established principle of international law.
"Should any country choose to violate this principle, it would signal to the world that it can and will do likewise for any other international agreements."
knn tt guy....

...ought to b shot.....
