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Crooked bridge
Strategic importance
For Malaysia, includes stopping Singapore tanks from crossing in
unlikely event of war. By Seah Chiang Nee
Feb 4, 2006
It is becoming clear that the bridge project is as important to
Johor as its water is to Singapore.
Everyone knows that the proposed east-west shipping route south of
the Malayan mainland will promote the use of Johors Port of
Tanjung Pelepas at the expense of PSA (Port of Singapore
Authority).
But apparently, thats not the only reason. John Burton, Financial
Times correspondent, said that it is part of a grander plan to
turn the southern state of Johor into a second Singapore that
would serve as a regional transport hub.
He added: Its revival now appears linked to Malaysia's forthcoming
five-year economic plan, which is expected to finance several big
infrastructure projects that will benefit Johor, including a
high-speed rail link with Kuala Lumpur.
Besides spending on ports, roads and railways to develop Johor as a
logistics hub to rival Singapore, the plan is expected to include
tourist projects to attract visitors who are likely to flock to
Singapore once it opens two casino resorts in 2009.
Burton said analysts believe the half-bridge may be a negotiating
ploy to push Singapore on a range of bilateral issues whose
resolution has been stalled for years.
Not only is the bridge a crucial deciding factor of Johors future,
other analysts believe theres a defence reason for Malaysia,
too.
Since former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew declaring years ago that
in an event of Malaysias unilateral cut-off of crucial water
supplies to Singapore, Singaporean tanks would move in to defend
the Republics survival.
He said If that happened, he would not wait for United Nations to
intervene because by then it would be too late.
Unlike the Causeway, the new replacing link will have a drawbridge
that can be raised at intervals to allow ships to pass under.
So even a crooked half-bridge would have a defence value for
Malaysia. A raised drawbridge could stop the Singaporean tanks from
crossing into Johor in the unlikely event of war.
In the latest development, both countries have agreed to negotiate
on a full bridge - on the basis of a balance of benefits, so
there's a glimmer of hope, yet.
