KUALA LUMPUR: The construction of the “crooked bridge” between Malaysia and Singapore, first mooted by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohmad 15 years ago, is being looked into again.

Johor Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Osman Sapian said Dr Mahathir had indicated at a meeting with Johor officials last month that he had “no problem” in reviving the project.

The prime minister had asked Osman if Johor needed the bridge, the menteri besar told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

“I said it is up to you, because that was your idea before,” said Osman. “The bridge has its benefits, but maybe the past prime ministers didn’t feel comfortable to continue a project started by Tun.

“He said if we want to do it, no problem, because it doesn’t involve demolishing the Singapore part of the bridge, only on our side.

“The crooked bridge will only reach half of the Causeway Link. We won’t touch the Singapore part, so that the water can flow there, and ships can sail through Tebrau Straits. The water will be cleaner, it will help beautify Johor Baru,” said Osman.

The menteri besar said Dr Mahathir had during the meeting also agreed to Johor’s request to build a third bridge linking the state and Singapore.

He said he will be travelling to Singapore with Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali later this month to have a discussion with Singapore government leaders about water issues, bilateral development and investments, and the crooked bridge may also feature in the talks.

In 2003, just before his retirement after serving as the country’s fourth prime minister, Dr Mahathir proposed the construction of the crooked bridge. It involved a six-lane S-shaped highway that will allow vessels to pass under it, since Singapore refused to demolish its half of the Causeway Link.

At that time, the project’s cost was estimated at RM1.1 billion.

Putrajaya paid the project’s contractor Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd — owned by the Ibex Group of Companies led by Datuk Yahya A Jalil via Merong Mahawangsa Sdn Bhd — a compensation of RM257.4 million for the project’s termination, when Tun Abdullah Badawi was the prime minister.

Johor-based opposition parliamentarian Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has questioned the decision to revive the project.

“On one hand you [the federal government] say that the country is burdened by debts [of over RM1 trillion], and on the other hand you want to reboot a project which had been terminated with hundreds of millions worth of compensation,” he told The Edge Financial Daily.

Wee, who is MCA deputy president, urged Osman to “find a practical solution” instead of reviving the crooked bridge project, which was terminated by Abdullah on April 13, 2006, citing legal implications with Singapore and under the advice of the attorney-general at the time.

“What is the rationale to revive this project? I urge the MB to get the response of the public and the relevant stakeholders for their views on whether the project is in their interest,” he added.

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