Dr M can’t understand why Singapore doesn’t want new bridge
JOHOR BAHRU: Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed “bewilderment” over Singapore’s rejection of Malaysia’s proposal to build a new bridge to solve the long-standing congestion problem at the Johor Causeway.
The prime minister said Singapore had adopted this stand despite enjoying years of “subsidies” over cheap water sourced from Malaysia.
He said the building of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) would only ease the congestion at the Causeway.
“You just see, we are willing to sacrifice money to support Singapore so that they can buy cheap water for themselves but when we want to build a bridge to solve the traffic problem, they refuse to have the bridge … I don’t know why.
“In the year 3000, I will not be around. By that time, there will be 100 million people in Johor wanting to go to Singapore. Still there will be no new bridge, so I don’t see how we can be so accommodating to Singapore without Singapore not accommodating us,” he told reporters after visiting the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) here today.
Mahathir said many commuters from Johor Bahru used motorcycles to travel to and from Singapore, which made it impossible for them to use the RTS.
Apart from that, improving efficiency at the CIQ would not be able to fully solve the congestion issue, especially during weekends and festival periods, including Hari Raya, he said.
“We have some ideas to reduce congestion at this building but it’s not adequate. When it comes to festival seasons and weekends, we will continue to face jams.
“We may improve efficiency but as long as there is no bridge, we will not be able to solve the problems at the Johor Causeway,” he said.
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kaytee notes:
Mafulat is totally unrepentant - still wants his old 'crooked bridge' (or equivalent) wakakaka. Sing is commercially the most mercenary nation so if it doesn't want it, it means there's no added value in such a bridge (at this time) - King Minus on his rampage again
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kaytee notes:
Mafulat is totally unrepentant - still wants his old 'crooked bridge' (or equivalent) wakakaka. Sing is commercially the most mercenary nation so if it doesn't want it, it means there's no added value in such a bridge (at this time) - King Minus on his rampage again
There is an important and objective issue which is the daily traffic gridlock at the Causeway, which starts from before Dawn to long after midnight.
ReplyDeleteThe "Crooked Bridge" is one proposal , which may not be a good one, but it is also up to Singapore to counter propose with a solution they think is better.
I find it really objectionable and irritating that Singapore is passively acting as a "No Man", and roadblock to any progress on the Causeway congestion issue.
With something that Singapore has a clear economic benefit like the HSR , Singapore will scream and shout pushing for ASAP implementation.
Malaysia is right to play peaceful but firm hardball with Singapore.
Play soft, and Singapore will attempt to eat your lunch.
The causeway CANNOT be replaced bcoz of the water pipes which carrying millions of litres of drinking water to RedDot.
ReplyDeleteMamak is scheming to do away with the causeway so as to add another nail to the water supply negotiation!
Do u honestly think the RedDot bureaucrats DON'T mind the the daily traffic gridlock at the Causeway, which starts from before Dawn to long after midnight?
They know & yet they have weighed the issue through & through.
It's just that neither parties want to disclose the REAL udang of water supply pipes.
To solve the causeway jam, the idea of a Mass Rapid Transit between Singapore and Johor Bahru was first suggested in 1991. This is to easy human & passenger car load. For the good carrying lorries traffic congestion, the Tuas Second Link was built and was opened to traffic on 2 January 1998.
The MRT link between Woodland & JB was procrastinated frequently, using multitudes of reasons by the M'sia govt. Meanwhile most of the lorry traffic is still preferring to use the causeway rather than the much free flowing 2nd link.
As far as the traffic flows between Woodland & JB, the RedDot is doing her best to resolve it - as both the human & good traffic r vital to the RedDot.
It's M'sia that wants to play hardball thus prolonging this unnecessary jam at the causeway bcoz of the drinking water supply pipe issue that both parties r not saying openly.