The government still needs consent from Singapore if it wants to build a third bridge to connect both countries through Johor.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad however said Singapore might not consent to the bridge plan.

“This came from the floor, they said they want to build a crooked bridge but someone said no crooked bridge.

“But third bridge, (we) have to ask consent from Singapore… and Singapore might not give (its) consent,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby after presenting the Mid-Term Review of the 11th Malaysia Plan.

On Tuesday, Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian had said that the crooked bridge may become a reality as Dr Mahathir was keen on reviving it.

The crooked bridge project was first mooted by Dr Mahathir Mohamad to replace the causeway when he was prime minister during the Barisan Nasional administration.

In 2003, just before ending his 22-year tenure as prime minister, Dr Mahathir announced that Malaysia would go ahead and build a crooked bridge – a six-lane S-shaped highway that would curve in such a way that it allows vessels to pass under it – if Singapore refused to demolish its half of the Causeway.

He said this bridge would not involve Singapore unlike a third link.

“(The) Crooked bridge doesn’t involve Singapore at all, so we can build it at any time but for third bridge (we) must get (consent from) Singapore,” he added. – October 18, 2018.