PM Says Decision On Bridge Due To Legal Implications
Bernama – 12/4/2006
PUTRAJAYA - Malaysia decided to stop the construction of the "scenic bridge" meant to replace the Malaysian half of the Johor Causeway because of its legal implications and complications, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Wednesday.

The Prime Minister said the Cabinet deliberated on the project at its weekly meeting today and felt that there would still be legal implications and complications to resolve afterward should Malaysia proceed with the project.

"Problems will arise when we have to cut the causeway, the water pipes and railway track and connected them to the new bridge. The problems will continue," he told Bernama when asked to explain why Malaysia did not just build the bridge in its own territory without negotiating with Singapore.

Speaking at a news conference earlier after visiting the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development here, Abdullah said the Cabinet made the decision to scrap the project after considering the sentiments and wishes of Malaysians who opposed the project being linked by Singapore to the sale of sand to the republic and the use of Malaysia's air space by its military.

"If we proceed with the project, it will upset the people and turn the project into an endless issue," he said.

He said Malaysia was not pressured by Singapore or anybody to make the decision.

"In fact, we made our decision on our own. It is a political decision. Singapore did not even know about our decision. We take into consideration the feelings of the people.

"We can't ignore the feelings of the people because we are the government elected by the people, for the people," he said.

The Prime Minister said the newly built Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex would not turn into a "white elephant" as it still could be used with the construction of roads linking the causeway to the complex.

He said new roads would be built to divert traffic to the CIQ complex before heading to the causeway.

The half-bridge or "scenic bridge", estimated to cost RM620 million, was to be built on the Malaysian side of the Tebrau Strait.

The bridge was meant to form part of the RM2.5 billion Integrated Southern Gateway project to turn Johor into a regional logistics centre connected by a network of ports, an airport and highways.

Work began in early 2003 but was halted in February 2004 to enable negotiations to proceed with Singapore to build a straight bridge to replace the 80-year-old causeway.

However, the talks stalled because Singapore set two conditions -- the sale of sand to the republic and the use of Malaysian air space by its air force -- to be agreed to by Malaysia before the republic gave its consent to the bridge plan.

Last January, the government gave the go-ahead to resume work to build the bridge and targeted it for completion in the second quarter of 2009.

The decision drew objections from Singapore.

In his announcement today, Abdullah said the government had stopped all negotiations with Singapore pertaining to the bridge, thus the issue of the sale of sand and the use of Malaysian air space did not arise any more.

He said Malaysia's decision on the bridge would not affect bilateral relations with Singapore, which were normal, but future discussions on outstanding issues between the two countries would not include bridge, sand or air space matters.

One of the outstanding issues is the continued sale of water from Malaysia to the republic.

Abdullah said Malaysia-Singapore relations would continue as they did not depend on the bridge alone, adding that their relationship was not an issue.

He also said the government would compensate about RM100 million to Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd, the bridge contractor, for scrapping the project.

Source: Bernama | www.bernama.com