Bridge issue is Mahathir’s only grouse
The Star -15/5/2006
KOTA KINABALU: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad only disagrees with the government on a single issue – the scrapping of the “scenic bridge” project in Johor.  
The former prime minister said Malaysia had the right to abandon plans for the construction of a straight bridge linking Johor with Singapore but should have proceeded with the scenic bridge because the project was within Malaysian territory.  
“This is my only difference of opinion with the present government. If we want to do anything in our own country, no one should interfere. It is our right,” he said.  
He said this to an audience of about 600 people when responding to a question from the floor after delivering a keynote address at a colloquium at Universiti Malaysia Sabah on Saturday evening.  
Dr Mahathir said even former Singapore premier Goh Chok Tong had written a letter to him saying he had no objections to Malaysia constructing the scenic bridge on its side of the border.  
It was only “logical”, he added, for the Causeway to be replaced with a bridge, at least within Malaysian territory, as it would enable water to flow freely within the Tebrau Straits while vessels could move easily between Pasir Gudang and the Tanjung Pelepas Port.  
He said the bridge was necessary as the number of vehicles plying between Johor and Singapore was increasing.  
“I’m sure if the British had enough money in 1923, they would have built a bridge instead of the Causeway, which was then the fastest, easiest and cheapest link to build between Singapore and Johor,” he added.  
On reports that conditions set by Singapore for proceeding with a straight bridge included the supply of one billion cubic metres of sand and use of Malaysian airspace for its military aircraft, Dr Mahathir said he agreed with the Government’s stand of not compromising on these matters.  
“But I might agree to it if Singapore allowed us to buy a similar amount of their land and to use the Sukhoi aircraft we are about to buy to fly over their island for some sightseeing,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.  
Source: http://thestar.com.my