Crooked bridge not a priority

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 7 years ago · Published on 17 Oct 2018 1:45PM · 4 Comments

Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali says the country's financial situation does not allow for major infrastructure projects. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, October 17, 2018.

THE revival of the crooked bridge linking Johor to Singapore is not a priority for Malaysia because of fiscal constraints, said Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The economic affairs minister said the call to revive the crooked bridge project was made by Johor Mentri Besar Osman Sapian but Putrajaya had not received any proposal yet.

“The priority now is the projects that will benefit people directly. And I mentioned in a briefing that priority projects should be on building hospitals, schools and roads as they benefit people directly,” Azmin said at the Parliament lobby today after briefing the local media about the 11th Malaysia Plan mid-term review.

Yesterday, Osman said Johor proposed reviving the crooked bridge project during a meeting with mentri besar and chief ministers.

“That was proposed by Johor MB. But as we have said on many occasions, our fiscal situation is not good at the moment and we need to prioritise the infrastructure projects,” Azmin said. 

“But once we have received their proposal, the ministry will look into this matter and see whether we have the capacity.”

But Azmin stressed that mega-projects, such as the crooked bridge, was not a priority for the government now.

“Maybe, we can consider when the time is better for us,” said Azmin.

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 said 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. – October 17, 2018.

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Comments

  • What is the purpose of a crooked bridge where cost incurr will be on the extra usage of materials for the odd shape and still end up meeting the causeway halfway and create a bottleneck. It does not elevated

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • It doe not elevate off the heavy traffic except boosting one old ego trip .

      Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Weigh all pros & cons, benefits, advantages & disadvantages from the Socio-economic, financial aspects before arriving at a decision!
    Make a decision based on pure merits not just because it was previously Dr Ms project!
    Today, our decisions must be based on strong fundamentals, timing, and if there is or not a need for it..

    Posted 7 years ago by TTs Take · Reply

  • Not a priority at the moment unless this bridge can generate revenue to Johore and Malaysia in general

    Posted 7 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply