New bridge to Singapore, Causeway stays
(The Malaysian Insider) – Malaysia and Singapore are looking into a proposal to build a new bridge linking the eastern side of Johor to the island republic.
The Causeway connecting Johor Baru to Woodlands in Singapore will remain under the new proposal.
The new bridge will connect the east coast of Singapore near Changi airport to a point east of Johor Baru.
Malaysia is hoping to leverage off Changi airport’s connectivity to spur development in Iskandar Malaysia.
The construction of the new bridge will allow investors and visitors to fly into Changi and travel by car or possibly use the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train to Iskandar.
The Malaysian Insider understands that Malaysia hopes the plan for the new bridge will see more investments, raise land value in Johor and create more jobs.
Singapore is also willing to go along with the new bridge because of the benefits it will bring to Changi airport. Singapore is also understood to be planning new townships near the airport.
And if Iskandar takes off in a big way, Singapore would also share in the economic growth.
Both governments are now expected to start talks on the new bridge which, based on previous discussions, could take some time.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak made the proposal to his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong during their meeting in Singapore today. Najib is in the republic on his first official visit as Prime Minister.
“The objective is to facilitate movement of people, goods and services, making it a lot of easier.
“So I brought up the possibility of having a new bridge on the eastern side because it is less developed and has huge potentials.
“There is no great hurry, but let us commission a proper study to get viability (of the project)”, he told a joint press conference at the Singapore Prime Minister’s office.
Lee said he fully supported enhancing ease of movement from both sides.
“Najib suggested for a longer term look at a new link on eastern side because Malaysia is developing Pengerang and Desaru.
“This is something which the joint ministerial committee can look into it,” Lee added.
Malaysia is currently connected to Singapore through the Causeway and also the Second Link which links Tuas and Nusajaya.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had wanted the government to build a new bridge to replace the Causeway but the idea was shot down by Singapore.
Dr Mahathir then proposed a “crooked bridge” to replace the Malaysian section of the Causeway.
But the “crooked bridge” was eventually cancelled by the Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration.
