Screenshots

[ DELETED ] God Bless the Mat Salleh.

Quote, "Let ships go through," said Sultan Iskandar, who was flanked by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the launch.

At last Pak Lah heard it from the horse's mouth... :D

Btw, I just can't wait to vote for the Opposition again next year!

So what now? Could the Sultan of Johor really told "the pensioner" to just keep quiet, or was his word twisted by the main-stream media? What is happening to this country of mine? Everything is being twisted, nothing seems can be taken at face value anymore. Is this what we get for voting in transparency and accountability into the government? MY GOD!!! What has AAB turned into? This is worse than what I could ever imagine. I no longer think it is enough for just AAB to step down, but the whole cabinet must go, and especially the whole Majlis Tertinggi of UNMO.

To UMNO grassroot member, I ask you this: Are you going to allow you chosen Orang Besar to continue with their lies and greed to the point of even manipulating the sultan. In the end these people will destroy the bangsa. You voted them in, you have the power to vote them out. Do it before it is too late.

To the other component party of BN, I ask you this: Are you going to sit quietly and let such things continue? If you are not going to say anything to condemn this things NOW, you are going to be implicated by association. Stop this rot before it is too late.

To the rakyat of Malaysia, rise up and make your voice be heard. You cannot sit quietly anymore and hope things will be alright. If you don't act NOW to ractify the situation, don't blame others if this country goes to the dogs. Tell everyone you know, everyone you come in contact with about the real situation. Do it NOW before it is too late. Stand up and speak as MALAYSIAN.

What Pak Lah heard was the sultan asking the rakyat to support the government under Pak Lah and Pak Lah is his long time friend. This was said before the sultan talked about scrapping the causeway

Pak Lah, the Sultan of Johor want the causeway at His Highness's state be demolished, can you pls do just that?. TQ.

Or Pak Lah want to mengingkar perintah Sultan?

check out the spinSTAR
__________________________________________________________________________________

Sultan of Johor causes stir

News update from The Star Newsdesk

JOHOR BARU: Johor Sultan Iskandar Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail caused a stir during his address at the launch of the South Johor Economic Region (SJER) today when he digressed from his written text and said the Causeway should be removed.

To the shock of the 2,000 people present and thousands of viewers at home of the live telecast over RTM 1 and TV3, the Ruler said it was built by colonialists who had used dirty tactics to deceive his ancestors.

He said the building of the causeway was to deliberately prevent ships from passing local waters, resulting in the development of Keppel Port in Singapore instead.

"The causeway has to be removed to allow ships to pass," the Sultan said before launching the multi-billion SJER. At this juncture, the audience broke into laughter and applauded.

In his address the Ruler, who was clad in a T-shirt, said that he would not "give face" (bagi muka) to the foreigners (Mat Sallehs)and urged the people not to hold them in high regard.

He also reminded locals and their children to be wary of them as they were vultures.

He also paid tribute to former Johor state secretary Datuk Seri Amar Abdul Rahman Andak who had fought against the British during his time.

This is the second time the Sultan had created a controversy within two weeks.

Last month, after performing Hari Raya prayers he said that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had already retired and should not interfere in the Government.

In the impromptu speech at the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, he called on Johoreans to continue supporting the Government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

On the SJER, Iskandar hoped that Johor would be transformed into a global economic centre.

"I hope the SJER will bring benefits to the people of Johor," he said, adding that he was confident that the project would be a success as there was cooperation and togetherness among all the parties concerned.

He also thanked the Federal Government, especially Abdullah, whom he said had known for many years as a friend, for the support to develop SJER.

This Causeway has always been used by KL as an instrument of its policies whenever it suits its purpose. The latest call perhaps the first by a Royalty may be justified as it was “a gift to the state from Sultan Ibrahim and the federal government had never had any part in the building of the Causeway.” But the call is NOT new.
40 years ago in 1966, after Indonesia recognized Singapore, the speaker of Johor Government, said the Causeway was "more a hindrance than anything else" and called for its demolishment so that “a port could be built around Johor Baru and ships could call there”.
Then 10 years later, in 1986, the visit of Israeli president Chaim Herzog to Singapore resulted in another demand with accusations that Sinagpore’s ambition was to make Johor Baru -a "ghost town" & Johor like the “West Bank in Jordan”
Now Khazanah Nasional was quick & come out with a call on Johoreans to stop being narrowed minded when dealing with Singapore whose Changi Airport and sea ports will eventually be the major gateways for the movement of goods and passengers from the South Johor Economic Region (SJER). The top brass tried to allay the fears of Johoreans & not be misled. The majority will benefit from SJER.
Hary Lee had also said “the causeway must be a bridge, not a barrier, between the two countries.” More details from:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2006/11/johor-sultans-call-demolish-causeway.html

I could not hold back my laughter when I read the Sultan of johor's remark this morning, which strangely enough was carried by the NST. So he has now called th PM's bluff right on his face that the johore people did not want the bridge. I guess the Johore Sultan needed to slap Badawi in the face without the media spinning it any other way...adn this he did in Live TV....great...Badawi seems to have no shame, however.

i support every effort to re-open the Tebrau Strait. I believe it will benefits us in many ways.

It is obvious the PM and his cabinet ministers are losing grips on governing the country.

By scrapping the bridge that replace the causeway, will just dampen the effort of SJER which he declared as his very own idea, how foolish is that? Furthermore, the government has to compensate the contractor by hundred of millions for something we can't even see. Can one call this a prudent approach towards spending money?

In the following months we shall see, whether or not his SJER will be a catalyst of economic growth for Johor Bahru.

As far as I concern, I have not indentified any concrete plan in SJER, is all about infrastructure development, what for we need more highways and empty building in Johor Bahru?

If rules and laws for foreign investment is the same, there will be no hope for SJER to be succesful. Its not as simple as demolish the causeway or building a new bridge. I hope Abdullah know what he is doing, but for what happened in past three years, I think we can wait long long.

If this was a western country, they would have built a bridge or a tunnel across the causeway from the very beginning. however, since this was a colonial backwater(johore, not singapore) a causeway was sufficient and cost effective.

This story was printed from channelnewsasia.com

Singapore stands to gain from Malaysia's South Johor Economic Region

Posted: 04 November 2006 2247 hrs

Singapore's Changi Airport and sea ports will eventually be the major gateways for the movement of goods and passengers from Malaysia's South Johor Economic Region (SJER).

The SJER is a project by Malaysia to turn its southern Johor state into a prosperous metropolis similar to Hong Kong or Shenzhen.

When completed in 2025, the SJER will be 2.5 times the size of Singapore and it is set to become Malaysia's second metropolis after the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia plans to turn the SJER into not just a logistical hub but also a centre for medical, educational as well as financial services.

Singapore stands to gain from this development.

Johor's Economic Planning Unit says Singapore's ports and Changi Airport will be the major outlets for SJER exports.

Singapore also stands to gain in another way.

Under the SJER, two zones in Johor Bahru and the Second Link will be known as Free Access Zones where Singaporeans can enter Malaysia without using their passports or going through the immigration.

This proposal, which is meant to attract tourists and foreign workers to the area, is in its preliminary stages.

And for the economic region to develop and grow, the Sultan of Johor has suggested demolishing the Causeway linking Johor and Singapore.

He said that without the Causeway, the Johor economy would prosper.

But it's a suggestion the federal government does not seem inclined to take up.

Malaysian Foreign Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, said: "I think the most important thing is for us to put the speech and comment in its proper context. I think what is most important is that we must always learn from the lessons of the past and make sure whatever development we are going to undertake will bring benefit to our well-being, for the good of our people."

Responding to the call to demolish the 82-year-old Causeway, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it found the Sultan's remark curious.

An MFA spokesman said Singapore doesn't believe the call represents the Malaysian government's position. - CNA/ir

CNA News Videos -
Singapore stands to gain from Malaysia's South Johor Economic Region

Singapore's Changi Airport and sea ports will eventually be the major gateways for the movement of goods and passengers from Malaysia's South Johor Economic Region (SJER).

Perhaps I should remind those kowtow to monarchy : sultan has no power over governance.

We have warlords in local councils, bandits in state level; please don't bring in the Caliph.

thailand was never colonised, i don't know of their royalty making such anti-west remarks, plus they are welcoming the westerners that the malaysian religious department scares away. syabas malaysia.

The last time Pak lah said sultan spoke based on views of the people. That was mahatir issue.So how now Pak Lah?

http://malaysianpoll.blogspot.com/

This is a slap in the face for AAB. Which rakyat sokong now? Demolish or not?? No wonder, half past six government!!!

Malaysia have the right to rebuilt the causeway, as what Tun DRM wanted similar with calls by the Sultan which I see ,is written here cheered & supported by the rakyat in his majesty speech to allow for more economic prosperity to the SJR & access of Malaysian port.

But isn't the Sultan recently asked TDRM behave like a pensioner? Or was it a spin previously?

And what are the reactions to the Sultan’s remarks?
PM ABDULLAH: Not Surprised; Causeway STAYS;
SINGAPORE: CURIOUS, But NOT Government’s Official Stand;
SYED ALBAR: Put it in Proper Context; LEARN From PAST LESSONS
More details at Update in:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2006/11/johor-sultans-call-demolish-causeway.html

As a daily commuter between Singapore and JB, that remark is definitely scary.

Jeff, you should make a short trip down to JB and photograph the causeway on an early weekday morning to show everyone how the tens of thousands of people head to work and study in Sg. =)

If the govt can guarantee a smooth transition between the demolition of the current causeway and the construction of a new 'scenic' bridge, by all means. Looking at how the transition is like for the old Kastam to the new one, I'm highly cynical about such smooth transition. TMJ should give more consideration about the daily commuters. We have no police entourage and loud sirens to open up a congested road.

Sultan Of Johore remarks that the causeway is to be dismantled to enable ships to cross the Straits of Johore and to boost the ports of Johore is dumbfounded and lack of substance.

For any ports to thrive, it needs huge container ships and oil tankers to use its facilities. The straits of Johore is simply too narrow and shallow for ships of that size to navigate well. Furthermore, Malaysia do not own the straits exclusively and it is shared with Singapore. Hence, it is even narrower if one were to only consider the Malaysia's side of the straits.

Furthermore, the 2nd link is rather low for container ships to pass beneath it. Only small trawlers and tug boats , at best, are able to pass beneath. Thus, if the intention to tear down the causeway is to enable ships to cross , the govt must also tear down the existing 2nd link.

I agree with Pak Lah's decision to scrap the building of the scenic bridge as it serves no purpose whatsoever apart from ecological reasons of allowing the water of the straits to pass through.

Let's not get emotional about it and be practical of the decisions made thus far. Unless a better alternative exists, tearing down the causeway would be a waste of public funds and it serves no purpose whatsoever.

It's not fair on those non-bumi's who need to work in spore to support their families. i dun think the govt will even consider the amount of money that our ppl bring in when working into spore. Without working there, many rakyat who might or might not been left out of purpose in the NEP would not be able to survive. Beside's their solid banking system is the only stable factor here for many malaysians. w/o singapore many of the non-bumi students here might not be able to have world-class education and job-opportunites at an affordable price.

Let us throw down down the gauntlet and see whether can the current administration guarantee the future of all deserving-malaysians or not. spore is not perfect but young malaysians can at least have a solid background first over there before coming back to contribute to our country. Money is not everything but a promising future is.