Building a third bridge linking Johor to Singapore is more important than replacing the Causeway with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's 'crooked bridge' pet project, Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong said today.

"The position of Johor DAP is that we are supportive of the third bridge, for there is a need to improve and speed up the construction of the rapid transit system (RTS) to link both sides.

"Our view is that we should focus on what is immediately effective in ensuring that whoever works in Singapore actually gets the best mode of transport.

"I think the crooked bridge is not an immediate agenda... We can explore it, but the priority is to ensure the traffic flow on both sides is smooth," Liew told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby today.

Yesterday, Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian said both the third bridge and the crooked bridge were on the table.

Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, meanwhile, expressed his support for the proposal, telling Bernama that he was "excited to know more about it."

"I support the decision of the prime minister and look forward to discussing it at cabinet meetings," he said when asked whether the project was appropriate at this time, given the Pakatan Harapan administration's cost-cutting measures.

The crooked bridge project was originally proposed as a six-lane bridge to replace the Johor Causeway.

However, as Singapore did not agree to the project, it was modified to incorporate a sharp curve on the Malaysian side to allow vessels to pass underneath, thus earning it the 'crooked' moniker.

The bridge would then join up with the undemolished portion of the Johor Causeway on the Singapore side.

It got the green light in 2003, during Mahathir's first run as prime minister, before being cancelled by the Abdullah administration.

Mahathir then reportedly lobbied Najib to build the bridge but was unsuccessful.

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