Sultan torches Najib's '3rd bridge'
Published: Jun 18, 2009 4:47 AM | Updated: Jun 18, 2009 10:54 PM
In what can be construed as a slap for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the Johor sultan has rejected the construction of a third bridge to link the state with Singapore.
In what can be construed as a slap for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the Johor sultan has rejected the construction of a third bridge to link the state with Singapore.
The message was delivered by the Regent of Johor Tengku Ibrahim Ismail during his royal address to officiate the state assembly sitting this morning.
"I was told by the sultan to convey his disagreement to the proposal," he was quoted as saying in a news report.
The off-the-cuff remark was made by Tengku Ibrahim at the end of his speech.
The third-bridge was mooted by Najib who claimed that Singapore was equally receptive to the idea.
On June 16, the prime minister responded to an oral question from Jeff Ooi (DAP-Jelutong) in Parliament regarding the matter.
The MP had urged Najib to state the economic criteria for choosing Desaru in East Johor as the site for the third bridge between Malaysia and Singapore.
He also asked if it will be more effective than the 'crooked bridge' mooted by Dr Mahathir Mohamad and if it intended to make Changi more prosperous as the world's logistics and communications hub.
In his written reply, the premier said the objective of a third bridge to link eastern Johor with eastern Singapore is aimed at facilitating the movement of people, goods and services between the two nations.
"As for now, a probability and viability study is being conducted by the government with regards to constructing the bridge.
"The proposal to build the third bridge is not aimed at making Changi more prosperous.
"On the contrary, it is expected to help increase socio-economic levels and (provide an impetus for the) tourism industry in the country, especially in Johor," he said.
Najib faces pressure on 'crooked' bridge
Najib made the proposal during his maiden overseas trip as prime minister to Singapore last month.
His proposal will mean that the controversial 86-year-old Causeway will remain intact.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had in early 2000 proposed for the Causeway to be replaced by a bridge.
However, when bilateral disagreements threatened to derail the plan, Mahathir decided to push ahead with a 'crooked' bridge above Malaysian waters to be connected to Singapore's side of the causeway.
This however was mothballed by Mahathir's successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, leading to a bitter feud between the two leaders.
Mahathir has not given up on his idea of the crooked bridge and last week he claimed there were more people supporting the project now.
Najib's proposal, which will see the Causeway remaining intact, may help him relief pressure from those seeking to revive the 'crooked' bridge proposal.
Najib: No decision yet on bridge
In an immediate reaction, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said that no decision had been made on the third bridge.
“There is no final decision on the matter yet as we have to see whether the third bridge project is viable or not,” he said in Sarawak.
According to Bernama, if the proposed project were to proceed, Najib would discuss the matter with the sultan and the Johor government to find the best solution.
However, he said no party had yet been appointed to conduct the feasibility study on the bridge project. Singapore will have to give the green light to the proposal before an in-depth study is carried out.
The message was delivered by the Regent of Johor Tengku Ibrahim Ismail during his royal address to officiate the state assembly sitting this morning."I was told by the sultan to convey his disagreement to the proposal," he was quoted as saying in a news report.
The off-the-cuff remark was made by Tengku Ibrahim at the end of his speech.
The third-bridge was mooted by Najib who claimed that Singapore was equally receptive to the idea.
On June 16, the prime minister responded to an oral question from Jeff Ooi (DAP-Jelutong) in Parliament regarding the matter.
The MP had urged Najib to state the economic criteria for choosing Desaru in East Johor as the site for the third bridge between Malaysia and Singapore.
He also asked if it will be more effective than the 'crooked bridge' mooted by Dr Mahathir Mohamad and if it intended to make Changi more prosperous as the world's logistics and communications hub.In his written reply, the premier said the objective of a third bridge to link eastern Johor with eastern Singapore is aimed at facilitating the movement of people, goods and services between the two nations.
"As for now, a probability and viability study is being conducted by the government with regards to constructing the bridge.
"The proposal to build the third bridge is not aimed at making Changi more prosperous.
"On the contrary, it is expected to help increase socio-economic levels and (provide an impetus for the) tourism industry in the country, especially in Johor," he said.
Najib faces pressure on 'crooked' bridge
Najib made the proposal during his maiden overseas trip as prime minister to Singapore last month.
His proposal will mean that the controversial 86-year-old Causeway will remain intact.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had in early 2000 proposed for the Causeway to be replaced by a bridge.However, when bilateral disagreements threatened to derail the plan, Mahathir decided to push ahead with a 'crooked' bridge above Malaysian waters to be connected to Singapore's side of the causeway.
This however was mothballed by Mahathir's successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, leading to a bitter feud between the two leaders.
Mahathir has not given up on his idea of the crooked bridge and last week he claimed there were more people supporting the project now.
Najib's proposal, which will see the Causeway remaining intact, may help him relief pressure from those seeking to revive the 'crooked' bridge proposal.
Najib: No decision yet on bridge
In an immediate reaction, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said that no decision had been made on the third bridge.
“There is no final decision on the matter yet as we have to see whether the third bridge project is viable or not,” he said in Sarawak.
According to Bernama, if the proposed project were to proceed, Najib would discuss the matter with the sultan and the Johor government to find the best solution.
However, he said no party had yet been appointed to conduct the feasibility study on the bridge project. Singapore will have to give the green light to the proposal before an in-depth study is carried out.
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