The call for replacing the aged Johor-Singapore Causeway from His Highness Sultan of Johor during His “Jelajah Makhota” has certainly evoked our memories of the past “crooked bridge” episodes. The idea of replacing the aged causeway with a new elevated bridge has caused much dispute between Singapore and Malaysia. Due to Singapore’s disagreement to participate in the project, Tun Dr. Mahathir (prime minister of Malaysia back then) even envisioned a crooked half bridge above Malaysian water while the other half remained on the Singapore side.
Cooperation of the two countries in replacing the old Causeway would certainly benefit both of them, although Malaysia is said to gain more. A new, elevated bridged would allow free tide flow across the Straits of Johore and hence, improve the marine ecology of the stagnant and stinking water shared by the two countries. Not only that, a new bridge could accommodate higher traffic volume with increased number of lanes. Its higher capacity would enhance mutual trade between Malaysia and Singapore.
However, this project favored the Malaysia slightly more than Singapore. If the old Causeway were to be demolished, ships would be able to pass directly through the Straits instead of making a detour at Southern Singapore. This would certainly increase the turnover of Tanjung Pelepas Port (PTP) and Pasir Gudang Port (PPG) and undermine the business of Singaporean ports which is crucial to the survival of Singapore, a country without noticeable natural resources. This threat is even more apparent when Maersk Sealand (world’s largest container ship operator) and Evergreen Marine Corporation (world’s second largest) shifted their operation to PTP from the Port of Singapore.
Besides, the building of a new bridge would allegedly affect PUB (Public Utilities Board, Singapore) owned water pipelines along the Causeway. This gave more reasons for Singapore to not cooperate with Malaysia in the new bridge project. Singapore even demanded sand and air space as trade-offs. All these factors led to the proposal of “crooked bridge” project by Tun Dr. Mahathir. However, the project was cancelled by Datuk Seri Haji Ahmad Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Throughout these episodes, there had been much rumor regarding the hidden agenda of Dr. M and Datuk Seri Ahmad Badawi. Some said that it was Dr. M’s clever maneuver to make Singapore disagree with the construction of a new full (lower) bridge so that he could go on with his higher crooked half bridge which would allow passage of bigger cargo ships. Some other claimed that Dr. M’s family stood to gain billions of dollars from the concession of the new bridge while some other claimed that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would gain from the sand sales to Singapore.
I do not know how far these allegations hold true but I do hope that current government can carefully review the prospects and risks of the new bridge connecting the two countries. Besides, I hope that our current prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak could negotiate calmly with Singapore regarding this issue without sacrificing our national sovereignty. Personally, I think that if a new bridge is to be built, it is better to be a straight, elevated bridge jointly built by the two countries.
What is more important is that we should understand the reasons why Singapore refused to cooperate and work on them. For example, the two governments can co-develop the areas along the Straits and therefore, have a common ground in rebuilding the Causeway. Apart from co-investment in Iskandar Malaysia, the two countries can actually jointly develop the northern part of Singapore.
Up until now, the development of Singapore has been focused in the southern part of the island leaving the northern end (such as Woodland) less developed. With the booming population of Singapore, it is just a matter of time for Singapore to further develop the northern part of the island. With such, I foresee another economic corridor shared by Malaysia and Singapore along the straits free from its current stagnancy and stench.
Moreover, ports in Johor (i.e. PTP and PPG) and ports in Singapore should avoid direct competition with each other. Instead, each port can actually specialize itself in handling certain cargos depending on its unique characteristics. While Singapore ports handle larger container ships, ports in Malaysia can handle the smaller ones going through the Straits. What’s more, Malaysian and Singaporean ports can seek cooperation in many aspects. Besides, Malaysian government should make sure the fresh water supply to Singapore remains unaffected in replacing the Causeway.
I believe that with careful maneuver and sincere cooperation, a new bridge can be realized without sacrificing any party. After all, a new bridge is beneficial to people on the both sides of the Straits.
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