Comments come after businessmen in Johor say they want project revived
By PAULINE NG
IN KUALA LUMPUR
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LESS than three weeks into the new administration of Najib Razak, and former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has started piling pressure on how his party and government ought to function.
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| Dr Mahathir: 'Does the government need to ask Singapore for permission to build the now desirable crooked bridge? Is Malaysia free to do things in its own territory?' |
One of his pet peeves - the aborted bridge project linking Johor Baru and Singapore - was again raised this week.
His comments came in the wake of news reports that Johor businessmen and Umno Youth were in favour of the crooked bridge being revived.
The aim is to inject life back into the city which has been bypassed following the building of a temporary road joining the new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex with the Causeway.
Why the change of heart (in public opinion), he asked in his latest blog posting? Taking a swipe at his nemesis and successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who upon succeeding him had scrapped the project initiated by him, he said, 'Is it because no one in Johore at that time really wanted the bridge, or is it that no one dared to differ from the open-minded and liberal ex-PM or the press did not dare to report the real opinions of the people?'
And as if egging Mr Najib on, he observed, 'Does the government need to ask Singapore for permission to build the now desirable crooked bridge? Is Malaysia free to do things in its own territory? Are we really independent? I wonder.'
With the controversial project back in the public domain, Johor Baru member of parliament Shahrir Samad said this week that he supports the idea, but that it should be a straight bridge and be built as one of the iconic projects in Iskandar Malaysia which Singapore is said to be contemplating.
'Why not build a straight bridge as one of the iconic projects?' he told local media, noting it would reflect better bilateral ties between both nations as opposed to a crooked bridge - sometimes referred to as a 'scenic' bridge.
Developer Stephen Shum agrees that a bridge would ease the congestion at the Causeway but needs to be straight and 'properly constructed' if it is to aid businesses.
Dr Mahathir has steadfastly maintained Singapore's approval is not required for Malaysia to proceed with the bridge - built crooked if necessary - so long as it is built within its own territory and then linked to the Singapore side.
Malaysia had disagreed with Singapore's demands that the former supply sand for the Republic's reclamation programme and allow use of its air space for its jet fighters as part of negotiations for a new bridge in lieu of the Causeway.
In cancelling the project in 2006, Mr Abdullah had cited legal implications pertaining to the current train tracks, water pipes and power lines that run across the Causeway. 'We have to follow the existing treaties. There might be problems if we do not.'
Dr Mahathir had insisted that such agreements could be referred to either the Malaysian or international courts for a ruling. He is not likely to ease up on the issue, nor another which he has strong views on: the impending Penanti state by-election in Penang which Mr Najib had indicated his coalition Barisan Nasional might opt out of.
Giving the Opposition a walkover would send the wrong signals, that the coalition he led for 22 years is weak.
Political observers are now watching to see how much ground Mr Najib is willing to cede to the former strongman so early in his tenure, as it could foreshadow policies ahead.
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