Malaysia abandons proposed new bridge to Singapore
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KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia said on Wednesday it would abandon its plans to build a controversial "half-bridge" to Singapore.
"The Malaysian government has decided not to proceed with the construction of a bridge to replace the Johor causeway," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a statement, adding that all talks over the issue would be halted.
Mr Abdullah said the decision was made after taking into consideration "the voice and sentiment of the people, particularly over the supply of sand and airspace," referring to other disputed issues between the neighbours.
Singapore maintains that Malaysia's proposal to replace the causeway with a new link would be costly and have "no significant benefits" for the island-state.
It had said Malaysia could not unilaterally build a "half-bridge" because international law requires mutual consent by affected parties.
But Malaysian authorities insisted that work would continue on the bridge, at a cost of 620 million ringgit (US$167 million), and that it could be fully completed in 36 months.
The bridge would have carried vehicles some 25 metres above the strait - allowing ships to pass beneath - before curving and descending to link up with the causeway at the sea border between the two countries.
Malaysian ministers reported last month that work had begun. - AFP/de
12/04/2006
MFA Spokesman's Comments on the announcement made by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi that Malaysian Government has decided not to proceed with the Construction of the Bridge to replace the Causeway on 12 April 2006
In response to media queries on the above, the MFA Spokesman said:
"We are surprised at this sudden decision when negotiations for a full bridge were still ongoing."
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
12 APRIL 2006 -
if MY really wanna build a half bridge, and SG refuse to build the other half. what's the point?
letting vehicles go half way drop into water?
or is it that they realise their "syndicate" in JB is doing well, and this bridge would decrease the biz of JB's ? -
can they make up their minds or not?
so fickle minded. -
here we go again
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they might change their minds again 6 months later.
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aiyah get the whole causeway to be torned down n resume ferry service..........
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they must have discover a way to cross into singapore,
UNDERGROUND. -
cable car lah...
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maybe they might propose the longest crooked escalator in the world.
what an attraction it will be!!!
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cheh. i was looking forward to it actually.