PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has defended Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian’s January 9 visit to a Malaysian vessel anchored in waters claimed by Malaysia and Singapore, saying the ship was in international waters.

Dr Mahathir also said he was amazed with the Island Republic’s reaction to the visit.

“I mean the reaction to his going there is quite severe, as if you are going to war. I mean he was going to go in a ship in neutral waters,” he said in reply to a question from the floor after addressing the Oxford Union yesterday.

He said it’s as if Malaysia and Singapore are going to war when Singapore sent warships “to chase him (Osman) away”.

“It’s not Singapore waters either. It’s international waters.

“The menteri besar can go into international waters. He thought it was Johor waters that’s why he went there.”

On January 9, Osman boarded the Marine Department’s vessel Pedoman, which was anchored in waters off Tuas that Singapore claims. The visit prompted Singapore to protest the visit, describing it as “provocative”.

The prime minister’s answer at Oxford yesterday seemed to be in sharp contrast to Osman’s comments on the matter published on Facebook.

In the post written in Malay, he thanked the “services and sacrifices” of Marine Department officers who were “committed to secure and defend our waters”.

The Pedoman was among five Malaysian vessels in waters claimed by Singapore a day after both countries agreed to set up a working group to look into their maritime dispute.

The prime minister did not reply to the question if he would take action against Osman, who went against the instructions of the Foreign Ministry to not visit the vessel visit, or would Malaysia put in place measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

Dr Mahathir defended Malaysia’s relations with Singapore, which a student who posed the question said decisions to shelve the high speed rail and trying to revisit the water deal contributed to the perception that “your government is pugnacious, acts in bad faith and wants to return to the days of confrontational diplomacy and barbed rhetoric”.

On trying to renegotiate the water deal, the prime minister asked the student if he thinks Singapore buying untreated water at 3sen per 1,000 gallons and then selling it back as clean treated water at S$60 per 1,000 gallons fair to Malaysia?

Dr Mahathir said Singapore “makes tonnes of money” from the water deal.

“I don’t like to say this openly. I like to talk to their leaders.

“But since you asked, I’ll tell you.

“This is grossly unfair to pay 3 sen. We want to negotiate at a price that is more reasonable.

“Three sen for every 1,000 gallons is absurd. For years Singapore had benefitted (from the water deal)”. – January 19, 2019.