Cancellation of Bridge Does Not Mean There's No Longer Hope, Says Syed Hamid
Bernama – 4/5/2006
KUALA LUMPUR - The decision to cancel the building of a bridge to replace the Johor Causeway by the Malaysian government does not mean that there is no longer any hope that it will be built in future, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid said Wednesday night.

"We should not see it as though it is never going to materialise," he said in the television talk-show "Bersama Menteri" which was broadcast live over the RTM1 channel. Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Mohd Annuar Zaini hosted the show.

Syed Hamid said that being a Johorean himself, he wanted to see the bridge a reality as it would bring many benefits to both Singapore and Malaysia.

"One day we hope Singapore will not look at it only from the credit and debit standpoints. So let's look to the future," he said, adding that the question of Malaysia being afraid to proceed because Singapore asked for sand and air space for its military flights in return for permission to build the bridge did not arise.

"We wanted a bridge but they wanted something we could not deliver," he said.

Syed Hamid also explained that the Attorney- General was always consistent in giving advice on issues like this which had legal implications, including under international law.

On Thailand's claims that south Thailand militants were training in clandestine bases in Malaysia, Syed Hamid reiterated that Malaysia respected the sovereignty of its neighbours and gave its full cooperation in detecting such forms of activities by the citizens of their countries.

He added that any issues arising on such matters could always be brought to the discussion table as both countries shared warm ties
Source: www.bernama.com