“We raised some of the issues which were regarded as controversial,” Mahathir told reporters on the sidelines of a high-tea event with the Malaysian diaspora here.

“I thought I have to state our stand on it. I think by and large, he (Lee) was quite accommodating.

“He listened to my views and I think he is much more open to discuss these things than before. Before, they just rejected all efforts at renegotiating.”

Asked further whether Singapore agreed to revise the current price, Mahathir said: “They didn’t say they agree but at least they appear to be willing to state their case and for us to state our case.”

As to what will be the next step, he said officials will meet to hold further discussions.

Issues on the agreement resurfaced in the middle of this year after Mahathir criticised the price of raw water sold to Singapore as being “ridiculous” and said he planned to renegotiate its terms.

The water agreement, which expires in 2061, entitles Singapore to draw up to 250 million gallons a day (mgd) of raw water from the Johor River.

The city-state pays 3.0 sen per thousand gallons of raw water, and sells treated water back to Johor at 50 sen per thousand gallons.

Johor, meanwhile, is entitled to a daily supply of treated water of up to 2.0% or 5.0 mgd of the water supplied to the republic.

According to Mahathir, another issue that was discussed was on Singapore’s Central Provident Fund but he did not not elaborate.