Johor needs hospital more than crooked bridge

Mohd Farhan Darwis Mohd Farhan Darwis Updated 7 years ago · Published on 22 Oct 2018 7:00AM · 6 Comments

JOHOR needs more infrastructure and hospital projects now than a crooked bridge to link the state to Singapore, said sources close to the state government.

Rejecting a proposal from Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian to revive the crooked bridge project, they also said the state exco members were in the dark over the announcement.

The project was first mooted by Dr Mahathir Mohamad before he ended his first tenure as prime minister in 2003. It was cancelled by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration and compensation was paid to the contractor.

Speaking to The Malaysian Insight, the state source said the construction of the crooked bridge would not solve the traffic problems faced by commuters travelling to Singapore.

The issue, they said, remained with the congestion at the Johor Baru Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex (CIQ).

“Constructing the crooked bridge is like going back to Dr Mahathir’s legacy. It appears as though he wants the bridge so much but it will not solve the congestion at CIQ,” he said.

Reviving the project also ran contrary to the federal government’s austerity drive, he said.

“What is important is to have projects that will solve the people’s problems. The crooked bridge will not solve the traffic problems in the Causeway. This is not the third bridge.”

He added that he agreed with a proposal from the Johor Crown Prince Tengku Ismail Sultan Iskandar to improve healthcare in the state and suggestion that the government proceed with the construction of a hospital in Pasir Gudang instead of the crooked bridge project.

Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian's announcement to revive the crooked bridge caught his exco by surprise. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 22, 2018.

It was reported that the proposed 300-bed, RM500-million hospital was approved under the 11th Malaysia Plan, with a 20.23ha plot of land in Jalan Gunung in the Bandar Seri Alam township identified as the site.

However, in May, the state government announced that it was among several projects being reviewed.

Johor Works, Infrastructures and Transport executive councillor Mazlan Bujang was quoted as saying that the Finance Ministry issued letters asking for these projects to be reviewed due to the alarming national debt of RM1 trillion.

Osman revealed recently that Dr Mahathir hinted that he was very keen to revive the crooked bridge project.

However, the source said there had not been no discussion on the project in the state exco.

“In truth, we have no information. The MB’s announcement caught us by surprise,” he said.

Another source also confirmed that Osman did not inform his exco members on the matter.

“And we need not discuss this crooked bridge issue at all. It’s best we sort out our healthcare needs,” he added.

In recent weeks, Putrajaya said the crooked bridge project was not a priority now. The federal government is also looking at the possibility of building a third link between Johor and Singapore. – October 22, 2018.

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Comments

  • This Johor MB is a dud and ought to be replaced. Period.

    Posted 7 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • A doctor in the Hospital Sultanah once lamented the beds caused backache rather than they provided comfort to the patients.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Health care is always a pressing need and should not be used to cloud the discussion .
    Debate the crooked bridge on its own merit.

    Posted 7 years ago by Joseph Yap · Reply

  • Health care is always a pressing need and should not be used to cloud the discussion .
    Debate the crooked bridge on its own merit.

    Posted 7 years ago by Joseph Yap · Reply

  • Diplomats should work to foster good relations between neighbours. The task might be tantamount at times but that is what they are there for. A crooked bridge would only symbolise two uncompromising neighbours that would sour relation for many innocent generations to come. Talk to your neighbours in the best of spirit and intention. There surely would be better options to consider.

    Posted 7 years ago by Noor Azahan Othman · Reply

  • What are the benefits from being one of south reign citizen? I cannot see any, way different from being a selangor or wilayah persekutuan kuala lumpur citizen, even the cost of living just slightly higher than here, still they hv tons of facilities for citizen to cut cost, in kl they were non stop construction going 24/7, n even they will keep regularly finding solution to reduce the traffic jam, traffic police? Pftttt i only can see them when royalties passing by or if theres any roadblocks, no matter how, you will hv to face all of it for the rest of your life in the same environment, a bit sucks when you know theres tons of student graduated from town planning courses but still the same result, its not abt the student, its abt government who should find solution for johorean, n even theres less job opportunities here, so most of them will head for sg, n guess what, they r suffering from traffic jam n long que just to survive, so please, anyone who can stood up raised their voice together, to make a better johor for all, not for the rich families only, but also for them who cannot afford to do anything, they also humans thoo. Stop buying cars, start sharing with others who knows it might gonna be a better future. This comment are not specific to anybody, im just sharing my thoughts in general for a better future.

    Posted 7 years ago by Daniel Sam · Reply