PUCHONG: Malaysia will continue to press Singapore for a more realistic water price based on current economic developments, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir said that Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah would lead the Malaysian team to re-negotiate the water price with Singapore, adding that the team would include representatives from the Johor government.

He said that the current rate of three sen for every 1000 gallons is not feasible anymore.

"It is unreasonable that the rate fixed in 1926 is maintained until today. We could buy things with one sen back then," said Dr Mahathir.

"When I was young, we could buy a few types of spices with one sen," he added after launching the National Community Policy on Sunday (Feb 17).