Screenshots

1.Jeff. My only speculation is due to Singapore coming By-election.

2. Got call fm friend ( unconfirmed). Somebody claimed Singapore is flying their auto pilot spy aircraft over Johor space..... ( this is before the news was spread just now).

Yes, Pak Lah you are wise, think straightly and work straightly for the good of the people.

Get out and away from the shadow of those crooked thinking lots.

Syabas!

Is this a threat to our National security? especially for JB? What happens if they dropped a bomb accidentally on our land? Or shoot someone from the airspace as they wish, with Fighting against Terrorism as their good reason....

We are building our own bridge within our boundries to make life easier for malaysians as well as singaporeans.

What happens to the CIQ which has been completed more than 75%?

Something is wrong somewhere else.

What a joke!

How can we expect Singapore or anyone else to take us seriously when we make ridiculous threats like this "scenic bridge" and then do a u-turn out of the blue?

Lets face it: Malaysia couldn't get its way, so threatened to do something crazy instead. Singapore called Malaysia's bluff and we backed down. Singapore papers will have a field day tomorrow: "Those wacky Malaysians, must be something in the kampung water"

Who are the architects, consultants and contractors who were paid to draw up the crooked bridge? Whoever they are, they can look forward to being paid again to go back to the drawing board and start again!

Pucat in the face!..Muka kena sapu arang!.....What kind of a PM is this? How to take him seriously on anything....He calls you to take arms against an enemy and you do it, half way through pulling the trigger he will say pull back....you think your enemy going to listen to him? Mati la kita?

A wise move to abort the crooked project as people will still come and go to S'pore no matter what.

Like most people, I agree with the decision to scrap the decision to replace the causeway. It serves no purpose to spend more than RM600m to build a bridge should Singapore not agree to it. From day one, the ‘ scenic’ bridge is cynical in design.

Pak Lah should have made this decision since day one to save losing face. I wonder how would Tun M’s reaction be? Tun M was so adamant and forthright about it that he made that hasty decision just months before stepping down. And several months ago, he reiterated his stand again for the replacement of the causeway and blame for Singapore for being recalctrant etc.

On the other hand, it might also be good for ecological reasons that water of the straits be allowed to pass through. Hence, Pak Lah should probably replace the causeway with a straight and slightly elevated one that allows water and small ships/trawlers to pass through. After all, much have already been spent on the construction of the CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) complex in JB.
I wonder what are they going to do with that new CIQ? I guess that the existing CIQ will not be replaced after all since the decision to replace has been scrapped.

Having said, Malaysia has been made a laughing stock again.

Like most people, I agree with the decision to scrap the decision to replace the causeway. It serves no purpose to spend more than RM600m to build a bridge should Singapore not agree to it. From day one, the ‘ scenic’ bridge is cynical in design.

Pak Lah should have made this decision since day one to save losing face. I wonder how would Tun M’s reaction be? Tun M was so adamant and forthright about it that he made that hasty decision just months before stepping down. And several months ago, he reiterated his stand again for the replacement of the causeway and blame for Singapore for being recalcitrant etc.

On the other hand, it might also be good for ecological reasons that water of the straits be allowed to pass through. Hence, Pak Lah should probably replace the causeway with a straight and slightly elevated one that allows water and small ships/trawlers to pass through. After all, much have already been spent on the construction of the CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) complex in JB.
I wonder what are they going to do with that new CIQ? I guess that the existing CIQ will not be replaced after all since the decision to replace has been scrapped.

Having said, Malaysia has been made a laughing stock again.

In the first place there is absolutely no way that Singapore would have succumbed to Malaysia's threats. This is especially so when Najib goes to the media crying that no matter what, Malaysia would carry on with its side of the bridge. Did they really think that Singapore would have succumbed under such 'pressure'? On the contrary, it could have very well strengthened Singapore's resolve in NOT agreeing to Malaysia's proposal.

Anyway to me, this bridge is all about economics. If Singapore agrees to this bridge, which makes it so much easier for Singaporeans to come across the causeway, it could be detrimental to Singapore as spending of money would now be transfered to Johor. Containers may now be hauled by road via this new bridge to the ports in Johor and deprive the Singapore port of more business. It's not about the cost of building the bridge. The Singapore Govt has plenty to spare in their coffers. So I don't think that one can expect Singapore to say 'yes' easily to Malaysia's proposal.

I dont think so Containers will be hauled daily through this causeway, as we already have second link where the traffic is also increasing, especially for heavy load vehicles.

What I can say it is a designer's flaw. The shape of the bridge and the location of the CIQ. If the CIQ has been built a bit inner of course we can build a bridge without crooked but broader and elevated higher than the causeway on our side.

So where to blame?

Well with Genting bidding for the casino in Singapore, alot of bilateral issues need to be 'straightened' out. It is a matter of who is holding whose balls. I think i would buy Genting shares if this continues!!!

For heaven sake, dont ever think that Genting can get that Casino project in Marina bay.... Unless if the two uncles are playing golf together...

This is one of Mahathir's legacies left behind before his departure as our PM, albeit an unpleasant one. We shot ourselves on the foot as we proceeded to go ahead with the project unilaterally and push ourselves into a corner. It seems that this project was awarded without an open tender process to Gerbang and they way it was awarded appears to smack of desperation to proceed with the project at all cost.

It is sad that this is perhaps the starting of more potential fallouts between Singapore and Malaysia. The repercussion will be felt by Johor Bahru business communities and the many Johoreans who commute to Singapore to cari makan and to study. As the Malay saying goes......gajah dengan gajah bergaduh, pelanduk mati di tengah tengah.

Trust me... end of the day... we will sell our air space and sand to Singapore!!!!!

Evidence enough... 1st we loose our our demand to increase water price . we loose on mycard , we loose on the bridge , we loose everything dude!!!!

Iaya.... we all ni macam Palastine kena buli dengan Israel...

The Singapore Govt. does act like a smart arse on many an occasion. An island which does not have space to even train their own defence forces! Is this another Israel in the making?

Can someone tell me what has the airspace and supply of sand got to do with the bridge? Airspace & sands are ours anyway. The water around the causeway is one of the most polluted in the world. Replacing the bridge with or without singapore is a wise decision. Pls don't get your hatred for Tun M cloud what is good & what is bad

Personally I don't see us losing on this one (except for the contractor of coz' and their affiliated cronies). It'll be the S'poreans sweating in their cars waiting for traffic to clear plus they'll need 2 fork out RM20 too now..S'pore always hardball when it comes to negotiations but u can only hardball when u know the other side is desperate..they only way to beat that is to walk away from the table which is xcatly what we did. If I was PM the next thing I'd do is make sure we send the worst quality of water across the causeway..let it cost them more to process...i'm sure there's no SLA in the water agreement on water quality...or they can just re-route the water supply from my taman..it's just as bad!!

A great and wise move indeed..We saved RM1 billion ringgit and this could be use for other economic projects.. Malaysian still could travel to and fro using the causeway and the Linkedua..Thanks Pak Lah.

To Mithos,

Do you think we gain when Singaporeans sweating in their cars waiting for traffic to clear and likewise, the need to pay RM20 per entry?

For your information, more Malaysians use the causeway daily than otherwise. On the average, there are 3 times more Malaysians than Singaporeans crossing the causeway for work , business and leisure. Hence, Malaysians have more to lose should commuting between Malaysia and Singapore becomes difficult.

This whole saga of Malaysia pulling it out makes Malaysia looking like an indecisive fool. What are they going to do with the new CIQ complex? Make it another musuem? Probably they should as this whole episode will go down the annals of Malaysian history for good.

Constructing the CIQ and the scenic bridge was a waste in the first place. However, it would be a greater waste now that millions have been spent which would be just classified as sunk costs.

Thomas,
The legacy (mistakes included) of one administration shouldn't be unfairly dumped on another's shoulders so it's highly inappropriate to label Malaysia as an "indecisive fool" for backing out. I think we would have made a bigger fool of ourselves if we'd gone ahead with the crooked bridge in the first place. The term laughing stock would have been appropriate to describe that. It was a mistake proceeding with a costly CIQ without finalizing plans for the bridge and for that somebody deserved a kick up their a&&. The point is that a lot of screwups were made by the previous gov't and it's about time that Pak Lah stood up and said that enough is enough.
The bridge was supposed to benefit both sides, malaysians travelling to S'pore for work and S'poreans to M'sia for leisure/business. I think it would be fair to say that we proceeded with the best intentions but somewhere along the line other issues cropped up which totally derailed the plan...(shit happens)

let's not forget that some 'leaders' claimed that the building of the bridge has to do with national and community pride.

now that the chief executive of this country made an about turn to this project, i wonder how these YBs to accept the cruel reality of being 'defeated' again by a small country of 4 million population ?

Did any of you saw the 6.30pm news today on what Syed Hamid said? He said the government hears the people objection to the second bridge therefore it was abandon. What a load of bullshit! Why did they not not increase the petrol price when all the people objected?
Isn't there any other excuses? Bird brains!

Guys, our beloved former prime minister had his say on this today ,just read about it tomorrow.

Singapore has been tracking it, eg:

http://tinyurl.com/s3qv4

Always was puzzled why build it if the second link isn't high enough anyway to allow big boats to sail from either side.

Anyway, cconcern here is what to do with the new Bukit Chagar customs complex, part of the RM2.5Billion bridge project. Without the bridge, the complex will sit as a white elephant on the hill. Maybe the JSEDC can turn it into a Johor agropolis market or warehouse sale outlet.

Does anyone here really think that there will be a crooked bridge in the first place?! If you did then our mass media really did a wonderful job and we really are living and thinking like the period in the movie V. Personally I’ve never come across such a bridge in my life and if there’s one, then I’m sure there must be a super reason for doing such a crooked bridge.

When two opposing parties engage in a negotiation, it’s good homework to find out what you want from the negotiation and what the other party would want. What are the concessions you’re willing to give to get to your objectives? If you don’t have, create some lah !! Start the crooked bridge story lah, show and tell the media lah, show ‘work’ has been done lah, show so much money has already been spent lah …. get the flow?

So when you’re at the negotiation table, turn the situation around and said you’ve lost so much (money, effort, plan etc.) if you are to agree to a straight bridge now. Heck, even say you lost face and public backlash is affecting your ability to give in more ….. then bang ask for what you want.

So what has been ‘lost’ here? What has been gain is what I like to know? My only complaint is where’s my CPF status in the negotiation? Please don’t tell me we’ll get the Sentosa deal.

Datuk Seri, can help ah? (I know I’m throwing a spanner here but I really, really, really need the money to off-set the 30sen and other coming increases be it electricity, cukai-cukai, GST dan lain-lain).

who says we lost this one? just wait and see in due time. i think the next step is for Pak Lah to tell KTM to end its service in JB instead of going into Singapore. Then there will be no Singapore/Kunming Railway but JB/Kunming Railwai instead.

The bridge is Mahathir's legacy.

Why should Pak Lah perpertuate the stupidity of his predecessor ? Yes, we might have our grouses regarding the rightful way to use the straits but the project was a non-starter in the first place because it was not done with proper diplomacy.

It's "tak boleh" when your neighbour disagrees with your design to "disturb" his property.

Bravo Pak Lah,you have done a good job.At least you know that a mere new bridge will not get more trips to JB from Sporeans.
Instead of dumping multi million Ringgit of Rakyat's hard earned money to build an useless half bridge,I rather the Garmen to spend on the JB's public transport system.
It wouldn't burn a big hole on Garmen's pocket to build a new bus interchange at the heart of JB city.
Besides,railway transit system should be built to connect the city centre and the neighberhood residential areas.Vehicles entering the city centre could then be reduced.
If possible,work together with SMRT to allow SMRT to extend their route to JB from Woodlands.

Bravo Pak Lah,you have done a good job.At least you know that a mere new bridge will not get more trips to JB from Sporeans.
Instead of dumping multi million Ringgit of Rakyat's hard earned money to build an useless half bridge,I rather the Garmen to spend on the JB's public transport system.
It wouldn't burn a big hole on Garmen's pocket to build a new bus interchange at the heart of JB city.
Besides,railway transit system should be built to connect the city centre and the neighberhood residential areas.Vehicles entering the city centre could then be reduced.
If possible,work together with SMRT to allow SMRT to extend their route to JB from Woodlands.

According to Bloomberg, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=a2q7NYLAtRuI&refer=asia , the "very short" statement given by Pak Lah on supply of sand and S'pore's use of M'sia air space is interpreted as "Malaysia public do not agree with S'pore demands in the negotiation so PM stop the negotiation and scrap the project."

This ranks as the best decision AAB has made since becoming PM. In one stroke, he (1) got rid of a Mahathir legacy (2) forced singapore to release their grip on AAB's balls (3) prevented an absolute joke in international circles. Of course Johor UMNO will lose out a little, but I'm sure Gerbang Perdana will be compensated (probably in a non-transparent way, as usual). The CIQ can be converted into something useful since it is a civil structure. Bravo, Pak Lah! But we'll be keeping an eye on the compensation paid to Gerbang Perdana...

Godfather,
I would say it's AAB second best decision made. The best was actually his first decision which was to scrap the dual railway line which was gonna cost us RM15 billion. And my suggestion for the CIQ..turn it into used car lot for stolen singaporean cars...;)

After listening to Singapore News and Malaysian News. I would rather think we have a better negotiation power later (lets look and see). "After this there will be no Airspace and sand to talk about". I think our Malaysia government are getting impatience with Singapore government.

Even we know how weak we are..... So Syed Hamid you are pure loser.... you fail in your task..... But wisely I think if we study from each angle..... we save a lot of money.... and save money to let some our minister/politician to build another 5.6mil house....

Guys maybe you all also must read this......
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/201311/1/.html

Pak Lah... Pak Lah... What you are doing?? What a foolish move indeed!! Wake up, Pak Lah... Please dont be carry away by all those rumours and business folks... BE YOURSELF... Building the bridge brings more benefits than terminating it... REMEMBER Vision 2020... We need to stand strong on our promise to "rakyat jelata", i.e. give us a scenic bridge... Promise worth everything, Pak Lah... "Rakyat Jelata" is smart... They know every scandal throughly... Please be a wise and smart PM and leave your name in "Book Sejarah" as one of the best PM we had in the future... Do you think this worth everything?

Such a big project awarded without any tender! Surely somebody would have collected some "down-payment" on it. What to do now?

The crooked bridge was and is never to be there. The news is to be pushed out at a strategic time (like now). I really don’t know why some are thankful (I’m sorry if I offend) here? Did I miss something? Or did we gain anything?

Do you know the consequences of our bilateral relationship if the crooked bridge is built? No one at either side will push this into reality as it’s tantamount to burning the bridge!! Didn’t you hear the phrase ‘we have to consider for the future generations of both countries”?

Singapore can stale-mate the negotiation as they know the crooked bridge will never be there, but in any negotiation, everyone has to step forward towards one another.

But I think some of us public Joe will say our thanks if the CPF is considered and resolved. I can’t thank for no money saved as the crooked bridge was and is never to be there in the first place.

If we’re in a developed country, the first thing the public there will say is not thank you but who’s the idiot who comes out with this ‘crooked’ idea in the first place

Only crooked people make crooked deals to build crooked bridge !

I'm glad AAB is setting the matter straight.

[ DELETED ]for a moment i actually thought they have balls to carry out their words....
our politicians are really poor negotiator lah. they have lost every single dispute with singapore there is (the railway is a given - just pure luck). and why do you think that's so?
imo, the reason is because these people are so used to pushing and bullying their way through [ DELETED - inflammatory and irrelevant to blog topic ] when it comes to when it really counts, they don't know how to do it properly. tsk, tsk, tsk.

Let's forget about the new bridge and talk about efficient.

What's the reason for current bad traffic on the causeway? Too much traffic? Or really just lack of man-power/slow immegration officier on duty? Many of my bad experience with JB custom is all because some officer take 5~10 minutes to process one car even when that car have only 2 passenger.

Look at the custom between HK & Shenzhen. Look at the volume, the amount of traffic that custom handle. Which is way way above our custom volume yet I can cross the custom in less than 20 minutes, and almost the same benchmark for the whole week when I was staying in HK and working in Shenzen.

crooked bridge is falling down, falling down.....

It's in the news!

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/4/12/nation/20060412142833&sec=nation

I, for one, will be saddened by the loss of a potentially great drifting track :( WHO'S WITH ME!!!!

sorry double post.... but erm what's this has got to do with the airspace issue?

Since when our govt has been listening to the people ? If this is so, the IPCMC should be up and running by now ...

Also, I have doubts on the amount of money spent so far (US$20 million as claimed by Syed Hamid) on the project by Gerbang Perdana.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/202857/1/.html

Mr Syed Hamid said: "Since there has been so much feelings about giving airspace, about taking our sand ... we have been listening to the people, we think the best thing is for us to stop the project. We still have the Causeway, we still have the Second Link. The Second Link is still under-utilised, it can be put to full use.

"So we hope all these things will bring a new dimension to our story about our bilateral relations with Singapore. We do not have to go on having these things hanging over our head."

.....
.....

Mr Syed Hamid said: "There is no policy change, all the time we have been monitoring while we are negotiating, the public feelings and public sentiments."

,,,,,
,,,,,

Malaysian MPs are already talking about painful lessons from this entire saga.

Mr Shahrir Samad, Chairman of the Government Back Benchers Club and MP of Johore Bahru, said: "Plan first, think ahead."

By scrapping the bridge, the Malaysian government says it can now focus its energy on other projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Meanwhile, it will find ways to connect the existing Causeway to the newly-built customs immigration and quarantine facilities.

Mr Syed Hamid also revealed that local developer Gerbang Perdana, which is estimated to have already spent US$20 million on the project, will be fully reimbursed by the Malaysian government.

...
...

masa'alahnya, sebelum membuat sesuatu projek, ianya mesti mendapat persetujuan dari kedua dua pihak, barulah ianya mula dilaksanakan. kenapa kerajaan telah mula membina jabatan tersebut. nampaknya kerajaan telah membazirkan wang rakyat tanpa berfikir dan mendapat persetujuan dahulu. sekarang, pihak mana yang patut dipersalahkan. tentulah pihak kerajaan kepimpinan UNMO sendiri.

yang hairannya, kenapa rakyat pula dikenakan...

To build a crooked bridge, Malaysian will be laughing-stock for a hundred years. Scrap the project now and be laughing-stock for a year. I think Pak Lah has made a wise choice.

This whole saga have Singaporeans and the world laughing at us. It appears that Malaysian govt does not plan properly; hundreds of millions just go to waste unnecessarily.

The reasons given for aborting are that Malaysia do not have to give in it's airspace and continue to supply sand to the Republic. I find those reasons given absurd. First and foremost, we have every right to our own airspace and it was not a concession given to Singapore in exchange for the construction of the bridge. Malaysia has every right to revoke the use of airspace by Singapore planes anytime they wish. As for supply of sand, it is not as if Singapore is taking it for free. Singapore can always buy sand from Indonesia should it chooses to do so.

In other words, Malaysia is actually giving in to Singapore for nothing! It is our inherent right to construct something within our own borders. Why should we allow the demands of Singapore to dictate what we should we build or not to build within our own borders?

Malaysia was initially so gung ho about it and decide to do so unilaterally. I have never agreed to the crooked bridge in the first place but the reasons for abandoning and the wastage incurred is even more unacceptable. Furthermore, something is indeed fishy here when no open tender for the awarding of contract.

Ultimately, the Rakyat is paying the ultimate price for the wastage and lost of national pride. Well done, Malaysia!
.

The Government has stated that the main decision for stopping the bridge was due to people's concern that Malaysia is bowing to Singapore's demands. Well if this is so then Pak Lah has shown that he is not afraid to back down. Yes in the eyes of the international community it does not potray him as a agressive neighbours and so Singapore can no longer claim that it is constantly being bullied by Malaysia! It is also more like "in your face" kind of thing to Singapore since they initially refused to share the bridge.
On other note it is interesting to read that the Government will reimburse RM100 million plus other development projects to Gerbang Perdana to compensate for the loss of the bridge. Who is paying for it? I hope the money will come from the RM4.4 billion saving we got from oil subsidy!

We still have the scenic view. The piles leftover from the abandon bridge can be touted as tourist attraction. "Here lies the piles from what could have been a scenic bridge to Singapore." Hey it could be a money generating site for tourist especially for Singaporean... What say you Rais Yatim?

It is ultimate bullshit from day 1 that the bridge will be "killing application" to Singapore port.

Did Bolehland media pointed out that the straights between two country just too narrow and too dangerous for frieghter? No matter how "crooked" you make, you can't change the geological facts unless Bolehland going to spend another thousands billions to widen the straight.

The sad news is, by hiding lots of information, it can make bull shit feasible.

Bravo, bravo. salute pak lah. At least he shows some gut in dealing with his ex-boss.

Whats the real benefit in building this bridge? Who benefit the most? Singaporean? Malaysian? Developer? ex-boss?

Does anyone question what's the motive on this crooked thing?

Sometimes really pity pak lah. So many "Old"/"legacy" things he has to "settle" through no fault of his own.

Things like kereta "potong", double track rail, scenic bridge (this is a real joke), bakun damn, perwaja etc etc are just some example. All of which require billions and billions of dollars.

Worse, he inherited the third world mentality, the corrupted culture, 30k odd umnoputra contractor, the bankrupt treasury and the cabinet through no fault of his own.

he should be catering more time to plan for the future, rather than spend it cleaning all those "lega-shit" by his predecessor.

In the first place, Singapore already said right in the beginning that the building of the bridge between the two countries had to be agreed first by both parties. They are no doubt expert in international laws.

However, due to the arrogance (The Ketuaan) of the TDM and his administration, the project was forced to carry out. I doubt there was any serious consideration of the ROI as we heard nothing about that. Pak Lah just inherited this shit as TDM signed the contract hastily a shot time before his retirement; that was also a bit unfair to Pak Lah who had tried to get the best from the situation.

Let this be a bitter lesson to our government. When dealing with a world class neighbor or any country, with first class mentality (they just got rated the first for quality of living in Asia replacing Japan in a latest survey), our kampong style way of bulldozing things won’t work anymore; an evidence of the effect of globalization has come to our doorway.

Lets pull our socks, throw away our denial syndrome, and learn and do something fundamentally correct. This may be a bit out of topic, when the media of Singapore commented J.B was like a Cowboy town, We jumped up and denied like hell from the top to the bottom, however, the next day, a seven month pregnant women was kicked and robbed at the toilet of a petrol kiosk in JB, and the baby was aborted. That automatically shut us up. The world could see it and people don’t have to say too much.Definitely, the police have a big job to and don’t just sit back, deny as if nothing happens.

We hope we could really learn from the past mistakes and not to repeat again and again. We and our future generations have to pay for it.

For the record, Indonesia stopped selling sand to S'pore a few years back.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/EG31Ae01.html

http://www.singapore-window.org/sw05/050414re.htm

Wait for it! Dr M will be calling a press conference questioning the wisdom of wasting money by NOT continuing with the project. Sounds familiar?

Same old, same old.

For whatever reason, I think we should commend and support the Prime Minister for aborting the plan to build the crooke bridge. Good decision is a rare commodity in Bolehland, at least, we don't have to waste billion of ringgit for a useless bridge.
We should laud Bawadi for getting rid of Mahathir's legacies.
The National Car policy, the move to discipline the police, the 9th economy plan are among some of the policy U turn made by Badawi.
Better if he can get rid of Najib, a useless minister who want to become Prime Minister.

"at least, we don't have to waste billion of ringgit for a useless bridge"

save amenda? itu billion ringgit akan di gunakan untuk project project lain.
why worry, kerajaan suka membazir wang wang rakyat.
hurrah for what!

"We can't ignore the feelings of the people because we are the government elected by the people, for the people,"
- PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

How about the IPCMC ?
The rakyat want it but the IGP object to it.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=191358

April 12, 2006 22:10 PM

PM Says Decision On Bridge Due To Legal Implications

PUTRAJAYA, April 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia decided to stop the construction of the "scenic bridge" meant to replace the Malaysian half of the Johor Causeway because of its legal implications and complications, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Wednesday.

The Prime Minister said the Cabinet deliberated on the project at its weekly meeting today and felt that there would still be legal implications and complications to resolve afterward should Malaysia proceed with the project.

"Problems will arise when we have to cut the causeway, the water pipes and railway track and connected them to the new bridge. The problems will continue," he told Bernama when asked to explain why Malaysia did not just build the bridge in its own territory without negotiating with Singapore.

Speaking at a news conference earlier after visiting the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development here, Abdullah said the Cabinet made the decision to scrap the project after considering the sentiments and wishes of Malaysians who opposed the project being linked by Singapore to the sale of sand to the republic and the use of Malaysia's air space by its military.

"If we proceed with the project, it will upset the people and turn the project into an endless issue," he said.

He said Malaysia was not pressured by Singapore or anybody to make the decision.

"In fact, we made our decision on our own. It is a political decision. Singapore did not even know about our decision. We take into consideration the feelings of the people.

"We can't ignore the feelings of the people because we are the government elected by the people, for the people," he said.

The Prime Minister said the newly built Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex would not turn into a "white elephant" as it still could be used with the construction of roads linking the causeway to the complex.

He said new roads would be built to divert traffic to the CIQ complex before heading to the causeway.

The half-bridge or "scenic bridge", estimated to cost RM620 million, was to be built on the Malaysian side of the Tebrau Strait.

The bridge was meant to form part of the RM2.5 billion Integrated Southern Gateway project to turn Johor into a regional logistics centre connected by a network of ports, an airport and highways.

Work began in early 2003 but was halted in February 2004 to enable negotiations to proceed with Singapore to build a straight bridge to replace the 80-year-old causeway.

However, the talks stalled because Singapore set two conditions -- the sale of sand to the republic and the use of Malaysian air space by its air force -- to be agreed to by Malaysia before the republic gave its consent to the bridge plan.

Last January, the government gave the go-ahead to resume work to build the bridge and targeted it for completion in the second quarter of 2009.

The decision drew objections from Singapore.

In his announcement today, Abdullah said the government had stopped all negotiations with Singapore pertaining to the bridge, thus the issue of the sale of sand and the use of Malaysian air space did not arise any more.

He said Malaysia's decision on the bridge would not affect bilateral relations with Singapore, which were normal, but future discussions on outstanding issues between the two countries would not include bridge, sand or air space matters.

One of the outstanding issues is the continued sale of water from Malaysia to the republic.

Abdullah said Malaysia-Singapore relations would continue as they did not depend on the bridge alone, adding that their relationship was not an issue.

He also said the government would compensate about RM100 million to Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd, the bridge contractor, for scrapping the project.

-- BERNAMA

Singapore had yet again tested the limits of our
patience
and impudently underestimated our intelligence and
our ability to safeguard our honour.An ever hungry
hyena testing the good mannered lion in trying to
steal the carcasses under his very nose.They did that
once under a different setting during the premiership
of Tengku Abdul Rahman .The result was the expulsion
of the Island State of Singapore from Malaysia.They
did it again this time through a series of viscous
and inscrutable positions taken by them in the
supposedly neighbourly negotiations to sort out long
standing issues and address new ones in the light of
current developments in the ecology and economy of
the two countries.The result is that the "scenic"
bridge now has become a euphemism describing the lack
of good will and bilateral abhorrence that we have
for each other.

As a Malaysian I fully support the decision made by
our government.By making all sorts of unreasonable
demands on us that would tantamount to jeopardising
our national integrity for the construction of the
proposed "scenic " bridge they had indeed gone over
board and had
transgressed all known decorum of good
neighbourhood.It is like a robber who have broken into
our house ,who, after being caught red handed tried
to buy his freedom by suggesting that the spoil be
shared with us !.This has always been the mind set
that
have been molded by the "kia su" mentality.We should
just hit them hard so that they would fly head long
over the hedges for such a nonsense this time around.

Suria,

Your underlying message is really very very deep. Too deep i cant even comprehend. And your illustration of robber in your house is, well, probably I am an idiot, I cant really grasp it. Can elaborate some?

Btw, you did mention hyena and lion. From what I know SINGAPURA is city of lion, so that make us the hyena?

S'pore will do anything for survival having long realised the reality that with the awakening of its neighbours both economically and politacally, it is very much pushed to the wall.Its dreams to be the Japan of Asian countries would not be a reality.It is making very desperate attempts to sustain its tradetional role in the region which is fast fading away.

It had been stooping very low by endosing every single move made by the west in their the global economic and political forays ,especially the US.Indeed together with Australia it had transformed itself into a US out-post in the region.

At the same time , with its huge international reserves it tries to dorminate the resource rich neighbours and peneterate their exploding domestic market.

Let it be known to them that our intellegence and wisdom in such matters should neither be insulted nor underestamated any longer.

Our problem is that,in the past, we do have currupt politicians who signed water supply contract with them for 999 years at a fixed price.If they do to others then what happened in Thailand should serve as a graphic example.

S'Pore should manage its deminishing fortune and relevence in the region with honesty and grace.They may turn themselves into robots or bionic being in the process we would not bother.

/// Let it be known to them that our intellegence and wisdom in such matters should neither be insulted nor underestamated any longer. ///

Suria, please speak only for yourself. Don't include me or others. I am afraid my intelligence and wisdom is of a different level from you.

/// water supply contract with them for 999 years ///

please get your facts right. If it is 999 years, then Singapore will not have to renegotiate so early. FYI, Raffles only founded Singapore in 1819. The two water agreements were signed in 1927 and 1962. So, if it is for 999 years, you and 40 generations of you kind will dead before the water agreement expires.

/// we do have currupt politicians who signed water supply contract ///

As you said, that is Malaysia's problem. Why are you blaming Singapore?

Dear confusedcious,

As a wise man with a name similar to yours had said some 20056 years ago ,"thinking without reading is wishful,reading without thinking is dangerous".

The water supply lease is indeed for 999 as borne out by information on the subject placed in local mass media by the government of Singapore some 3 years ago.I did not believe my own eyes when I first saw it as I am more used to see the figure "99" years as in the case of our leasehold period for landed properties.Certainly this should have gone into the Guniess Book Of World records as a contract with the longest tenor in the history of modern contracts.

Obviously there is more than meet the eye in all matters surrounding the signing of the said contract.But then this is a different subject all together.

Dear confusedcious,

As a wise man with a name similar to yours had said some 2056 years ago ,"thinking without reading is wishful,reading without thinking is dangerous".

The water supply lease is indeed for 999 as borne out by information on the subject placed in local mass media by the government of Singapore some 3 years ago.I did not believe my own eyes when I first saw it as I am more used to see the figure "99" years as in the case of our leasehold period for landed properties.Certainly this should have gone into the Guniess Book Of World records as a contract with the longest tenor in the history of modern contracts.

Obviously there is more than meet the eye in all matters surrounding the signing of the said contract.But then this is a different subject all together.

There is obviously more to the eye than what is stated. the reason given for the cancellation is of course a politically convenient excuse, and NOT the real reason. There were hints of potential legal reasons, and I suspect therein lies the real reason.

The reason for the bridge to begin with is also shrouded in mystery. Much has been said, but I think the main reason is likely access to PTP, and a chance to collect tolls. As well as the usual big margin for the contract.

Whatever the real reason, it obvious does NOT benefit Singapore at all, and hence like in any negotiations, they will looks for some benefits out of this deal. They asked for sand, and overflying rights.

The final outcome will thus depend on whether the benefit to Malaysia (if any) is enough to justify the politically suicidal agreement to allow the SAF to overfly Malaysian airspace. It is obvious Singapore is NOT going to back down on this.

Well, we know the answer don't we.

Being emotional and blindly patriotic, like some of the posters, will not help, and just show one's lack of knowledge and rational thinking.

As to a water supply agreement for 999 years, I am not aware of such an agreement, and stand to be corrected with appropriate evidence.

Suria,

Yes, I agree with your quotation of my namesake, ///,"thinking without reading is wishful,reading without thinking is dangerous". ///

I wish you do have the sense to apply that to yourself. A little learning is a dangerous thing.

It is 99 years, and not 999 years as asserted by you. I thought the few points I brought up would have convinced you of your error, but you don't seem to be able to follow the sage's advice, even though we know how to quote him.

Just think about what you have read.

Singapore was founded in 1819 by Raffles. That was only 187 years ago. It it were indeed for 999 years, there will be no urgency for anyone to start re-negotiating the agreements.

From memory, the 2 agreements will expire in 2011 and 2061 respectively. So they are definitely for 99 years and not 999 years.

The internet is a wonderful thing - try google for the answers. Show me the media info put out by the Singapore government to back up your case and I will admit my mistake readily.

I have downloaded the 2 water agreements. If you like, give me your email and I will send them to you.

Reading without thinking is indeed dangerous. But more dangerous is blinkered thinking, or reading what is not there because of misplaced nationalism and jingoism. In your case, I will be charitable - get your eyesight checked.

Okay Suria, since you are just a nice person, I will reciprocate by saving you the trouble of searching for the relevant facts.

I have with the links below, you will be able to see the facts from other points of views rather than that fed by the one-sided government and press. Just a wishful thinking - that you will be honourable enough to admit your mistake and apologise.

http://www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020805bn.htm

http://www.singapore-window.org/sw03/030630af.htm

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/DH23Ae01.html

http://www.mfa.gov.sg/internet/press/water/faq.html

http://www.mfa.gov.sg/internet/press/water/summary.html

Dear confusedcious ,

Ok ,based on your submissions I would use my common sense to overrule my sight. I concede.

Nevertheless it is still absured for anyone to have executed a water supply agreement for 99 years and at a fixed rate too!

I would however uphold the wisdom of the ancient:
"thinking without reading is wishful,reading without thinking is dangerous" and would further add: "those who talk and act without reading and thinking must either be an imposter or a corrupt politican" or as they say "a seasoned politician".

I believe both of us are neither of both.

Regards.

to those ppl who mentioned that our dearly beloved PM happens to be a victim of the previous decision made by the former PM, I think you should aptly think again ...

our current PM is also a member previously of the previous Cabinet - the deputy PM himself ...

It is easy to push the responsibility to the previous PM, TDM himself but as a DPM himself few years ago ... what was he doing ?

cre8tif,

First off, your nick is indeed creative.

But I think you should also heed your own advice - think again.

If you are No.2 and the No.1, who is known to be head strong and will bulldoze his way to get what he wants, what will you do?

Remember Musa Hitam, Ku Li and Anwar Ibrahim?

When Singapore government went over board during the premiership of Tengku Abdul Rahman he expelled "the tiny red sport" out of Malaysia.

The late Tun Dr.Ismail was very much against the idea.
In fact as the minister of Internal Affairs then he instructed the head of the prison in Taiping to prepare two special air conditioned cells for two political celebrities then. It was rumored that one was for Mr.Lee Kuan Yew and the other was for Syed Nasir Ismail.

Tegku subsequently explained to his fellow UMNO members that it was better to loose Singapore than to throw the country into a civil war.Dr.Ismail subsequently made a sudden temporary departure from active politics.

They are great leaders of conscience and passion.I love and respect them for what they were very much.

When our temperature was up again against Singapore government,though of less serious nature during his premiership Mahathir satisfied himself by leading an emotional crowd to shout their hearts out with verbal warnings to Singapore to show better respect to Malaysia and to mind its own business.Annuar Ibrahim,his deputy then just joined the chorus.

I personally could not make any sense out of this except that it was nothing more then an exercise in group dynamics and retorics which most ordinary Malaysian politicians ( not being too far away from their counterparts in India ) excel.

Pak Lah had been trapped and waged between legacies left by Mahathir and the realities of the moment and he had decided his own predictable way.

The decision was a difficult and onerous one for him to make.It is real with all of its possible fall out impact and consequences.It not just gathering zealous supporters and then shout and dance with them and proclaimed "we are the brave and the national hero" as what Mahathir had done.

I would not have enjoyed even if these are footage from a Hindi movie, my favourate.

In view of this I respect Pak Lah as he is and for whatever he is .He is sincere,responsible and totally unpretentious.

Before I form any opinion on any matter, I always avoid the pitfall of this saying:

Nyamuk di seberang nampak, Gajah disisi tak nampak.