A bridge too far from JB
Wong Teck ChiPublished: Jun 20, 2009 1:06 PM | Updated: Jun 20, 2009 1:18 PM
There is growing opposition to the proposed third bridge between Malaysia and Singapore and it has nothing to do with politics.
There is growing opposition to the proposed third bridge between Malaysia and Singapore and it has nothing to do with politics.
For the one million Johoreans living in the state capital, the Causeway is still their most convenient and cheapest way of getting across to Singapore.
Building a bridge in faraway eastern Johor to link lightly populated Desaru with Singapore’s Changi airport does not serve the real needs of the people.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak made the proposal to build the third bridge during his maiden overseas trip as prime minister to Singapore last month.
According to him, the new bridge will spur economic development in eastern Johor.
On Thursday, the Johor sultan added his voice against the construction of the third bridge.
The message was delivered by Johor regent Tengku Ibrahim Ismail at the end of his royal address to officiate the state assembly sitting.
"I was told by the sultan to convey his disagreement to the proposal," he said in an off-the-cuff remark at the end of his speech.
Johor Bahru MP Shahrir Abdul Samad told Malaysiakini that Johoreans generally have a negative view of Najib’s proposal.
"The problems of the Causeway have yet been solved and the second bridge is yet to be fully utilised, why build the third bridge?" he asked.
He denied that racial sentiments were behind the objection, especially coming from the Umno grassroots.
"Why look at the issue from the viewpoint of Malay interest, Chinese interest? Do you mean that the Chinese interest would be advanced by the bridge? Would you think all Chinese support the bridge?" retorted the veteran Umno politician.
Skudai assemblyman Boo Cheng Hau, who is from DAP, believed that the objection was related more to economic reasons.
For most Johoreans, their opposition to the new bridge is the distance. The third bridge is to be in Pengkalan, which is way too far from Johor Baru.
According to Pulai MCA division chief Low Teh Hian, the people prefer that the government resolves the Causeway problem instead.
Failure of second bridge
Many believed that the new bridge will suffer the same fate as the second link, which is located in western Johor.
Opened in the 1998, the second bridge has failed miserably to overcome traffic congestion in the Causeway.
Johor Baru Chinese Association chief Lim Ik Kim said the second bridge was "inconvenient".
"In the past 10 years, I used the bridge not more than three times," he said.
The high toll rate is another reason why the second bridge is under-utilised.
The toll for the Causeway is around RM5, while it is four times higher for the second bridge - about RM20.
"The second bridge looks like another white elephant. If the government want to encourage the people to use it, then they should reduce the toll rate," said Boo.
Meanwhile, Lim argued that the government should focus all its resources on upgrading the Causeway, rather than building the third bridge.
"The third bridge is not required at the moment. We may need it in 10 years’ time. Although theoretically it could stimulate the economy and tourism in the area, its location is too far (from Johor Baru)," he stressed.
Lim suggested the government to build a monorail or expand the Causeway to resolve the traffic congestion.
"People from both countries can then find it more convenient to travel and the economy will grow," he said.
Meanwhile, Boo and Low argued that a new bridge be built to replace the 86-year-old Causeway.
However, they insisted that it should be a straight bridge instead of a 'crooked' bridge as proposed by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad after negotiations with Singapore failed.
"This is what the people need urgently. Eastern Johor can wait," said Low.
For the one million Johoreans living in the state capital, the Causeway is still their most convenient and cheapest way of getting across to Singapore.
Building a bridge in faraway eastern Johor to link lightly populated Desaru with Singapore’s Changi airport does not serve the real needs of the people.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak made the proposal to build the third bridge during his maiden overseas trip as prime minister to Singapore last month.According to him, the new bridge will spur economic development in eastern Johor.
On Thursday, the Johor sultan added his voice against the construction of the third bridge.
The message was delivered by Johor regent Tengku Ibrahim Ismail at the end of his royal address to officiate the state assembly sitting.
"I was told by the sultan to convey his disagreement to the proposal," he said in an off-the-cuff remark at the end of his speech.
Johor Bahru MP Shahrir Abdul Samad told Malaysiakini that Johoreans generally have a negative view of Najib’s proposal."The problems of the Causeway have yet been solved and the second bridge is yet to be fully utilised, why build the third bridge?" he asked.
He denied that racial sentiments were behind the objection, especially coming from the Umno grassroots.
"Why look at the issue from the viewpoint of Malay interest, Chinese interest? Do you mean that the Chinese interest would be advanced by the bridge? Would you think all Chinese support the bridge?" retorted the veteran Umno politician.
Skudai assemblyman Boo Cheng Hau, who is from DAP, believed that the objection was related more to economic reasons.For most Johoreans, their opposition to the new bridge is the distance. The third bridge is to be in Pengkalan, which is way too far from Johor Baru.
According to Pulai MCA division chief Low Teh Hian, the people prefer that the government resolves the Causeway problem instead.
Failure of second bridge
Many believed that the new bridge will suffer the same fate as the second link, which is located in western Johor.
Opened in the 1998, the second bridge has failed miserably to overcome traffic congestion in the Causeway.
Johor Baru Chinese Association chief Lim Ik Kim said the second bridge was "inconvenient".
"In the past 10 years, I used the bridge not more than three times," he said.
The high toll rate is another reason why the second bridge is under-utilised. The toll for the Causeway is around RM5, while it is four times higher for the second bridge - about RM20.
"The second bridge looks like another white elephant. If the government want to encourage the people to use it, then they should reduce the toll rate," said Boo.
Meanwhile, Lim argued that the government should focus all its resources on upgrading the Causeway, rather than building the third bridge.
"The third bridge is not required at the moment. We may need it in 10 years’ time. Although theoretically it could stimulate the economy and tourism in the area, its location is too far (from Johor Baru)," he stressed.
Lim suggested the government to build a monorail or expand the Causeway to resolve the traffic congestion."People from both countries can then find it more convenient to travel and the economy will grow," he said.
Meanwhile, Boo and Low argued that a new bridge be built to replace the 86-year-old Causeway.
However, they insisted that it should be a straight bridge instead of a 'crooked' bridge as proposed by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad after negotiations with Singapore failed.
"This is what the people need urgently. Eastern Johor can wait," said Low.
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