KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia said on Wednesday it would abandon its
plans to build a controversial "half-bridge" to Singapore.
"The Malaysian government has decided not to proceed with the
construction of a bridge to replace the Johor causeway," Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a statement, adding that all
talks over the issue would be halted.
Mr Abdullah said the decision was made after taking into
consideration "the voice and sentiment of the people, particularly
over the supply of sand and airspace," referring to other disputed
issues between the neighbours.
Singapore maintains that Malaysia's proposal to replace the
causeway with a new link would be costly and have "no significant
benefits" for the island-state.
It had said Malaysia could not unilaterally build a "half-bridge"
because international law requires mutual consent by affected
parties.
But Malaysian authorities insisted that work would continue on the
bridge, at a cost of 620 million ringgit (US$167 million), and that
it could be fully completed in 36 months.
The bridge would have carried vehicles some 25 metres above the
strait - allowing ships to pass beneath - before curving and
descending to link up with the causeway at the sea border between
the two countries.
Malaysian ministers reported last month that work had begun. -
AFP/de
12/04/2006
MFA Spokesman's Comments on the announcement made by Malaysian
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi that Malaysian Government has
decided not to proceed with the Construction of the Bridge to
replace the Causeway on 12 April 2006
In response to media queries on the above, the MFA Spokesman
said:
"We are surprised at this sudden decision when negotiations for a
full bridge were still ongoing."
. . . . .
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
12 APRIL 2006
