Sultan Johor: No third bridge!

The recent proposal of the third bridge crossing the Johor Straits on the east coast of Johor linking Penggerang to Changi has been vehemently rejected by HRH Sultan Johor. HRH Tuanku Sultan Iskandar Al Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail’s titah was delivered by HRH Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Sultan Iskandar at the opening of the new term in Johor State Assembly, at their new ‘home’ in newly dedicated Kota Iskandar.

 NST has the story:

 2009/06/18

Johor Sultan opposes third bridge

Umar Ariff and Chuah Bee Kim

 

JOHOR BARU, THURS:

The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Iskandar has expressed his opposition to the proposed third bridge linking Johor and Singapore.

Sultan Iskandar’s message was delivered by his son, Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail who read his speech at the opening of the State Assembly in Kota Iskandar, Nusajaya today.

“I am instructed by His Royal Highness to convey a message that he did not agree with the proposal for a third bridge,” said Tunku Ibrahim after he finished reading the prepared speech.

Tunku Ibrahim, however, did not eleborate further on the Sultan’s stand on the matter.

The proposed third bridge, linking Pengerang in Kota Tinggi and Changi, in Singapore is among the key bilateral issues discussed between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong during Najib’s official visit to the republic last month.

It is aimed at complementing future development in the less-developed Pengerang and Desaru areas.

Sultan Iskandar had earlier arrived at Kota Iskandar to open the State Assembly.

After inspecting the guard of honor, Sultan Iskandar headed to his room at the State Assembly Hall building to rest.

Sultan Iskandar, who was scheduled to deliver the opening royal address, however left before the session started, and his speech was later read by the Tunku Mahkota.

Also present was Sultan Iskandar’s grandson, the Raja Muda of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibrahim.

This is the first time the State Assembly is held in Kota Iskandar since the State administrative centre was moved from Bukit Timbalan in March.

In his speech, Sultan Iskandar hoped that unity among the people should be maintained to ensure they lead a joyous life.

“All of us are grateful that peace prevails in Johor. This can only continue should the rakyat held steadfast to the constitution,” he said.

Sultan Iskandar said although there were economic problems at present, the people need to be confident that the State’s economy has strong foundations.

He said the people should welcome government’s efforts in building a developed economy.

“With that, I am confident that Johor will continue to excel in all fields that benefit the rakyat.”

Meanwhile, Datuk Harun Abdullah, whose Tanjung Surat constituency is in Pengerang expressed his support for Sultan Iskandar’s objection to the third bridge plan.

He said the Sultan of Johor’s wisdom on issues affecting the State has always been for the good of Johoreans.

“I concur with Tuanku on this. I believe he has the wisdom is dealing with the issue,” he said when met after the State Assembly session which was adjourned until Monday

  

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It seems that PM Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s attempt to have the third bridge proposal ready for a thorough review, announced during his recent visit to Singapore as a ‘deflection’ to unresolved issues has blown right into the face.

PM Dato’ Seri Najib should use his first opportunity in meeting Brig. Gen. (NS) Lee Hsien Loong in setting the agenda and timeline to resolve long outstanding issues such as the water agreement, Malaysian CPF, KTMB land and of course, newer ones such as the bridge-replacing-the-Johor-Causeway.

During delivering his titah at the launching of Iskandar Development Region (previously known as South Johor Economic Region) in November 2006, HRH Sultan Iskandar broke protocol to ask the Government to remove the Johor Causeway.

“Buang tambak tu. Bior air lalu. Dulu atuk aku kena tipu dengan orang putih!” (Get rid of the Causeay. Let the water flow. My late grandfather was deceived by the British), televised live on national TV. HRH Tuanku Sultan also said SJER should not be named after him but instead singled out Dato’ Rahman Andak, as the father of modern Johor and tried very hard to stop the influence of British into the prosperous state.

Present amongst others was Prime Minister ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who abruptly cancelled the Scenic Bridge project and gave the reason that the Johoreans do not want the sale of sand to Singapore. Apparently, Singapore under Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong did not object for the construction of the bridge (as of  22 April 2002 letter), hence the Gerbang Selatan project was initiated and commenced. Later, for unclear reasons, the issue about the bridge was brought into the bilateral talks and items such as the sale of sand to Singapore and the use of SAF military aircraft in Johorean airspace were unexpectedly appearing in the negotiations. These new items were vehenemently rejected by the Johoreans. As such, ill advised PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah used the excuse of Johoreans rejecting the sale of sand and SAF using Joho airspace to cancel the bridge instead of addressing all unresolved issues at hand and not agreeing into these new conditions attached to the negotiations.

The idea of the third bridge is really baffling. It served no real purpose in terms of benefits derived, especially from economic and political standpoint. In fact, it is detrimental to the South Johor economy. Port of  Johor in Pasir Gudang and newly dedicated Johor Corp developed of Port of Tanjong Pelepas are focused on oil and gas industry. With the third bridge build on the tip of the east Johor, a lot of activities within the hub of oil and gas industry are gravely impaired. Thus, it will a major loss of deeplyrooted companies like Sime Darby Engineering, MMHE, Titan and Ramunia, which fabricate and service oil and gas platforms in the region.

If the argument of developing the socio-economy of the east of coast of Johor, then it is lame to have a third bridge for that. Not too long ago, Ranhill Bhd. was given the concession to build a dedicated highway from Senai to Desaru due to commence shortly, exactly for that purpose but for a lot less money.

Until recently, the Johor State Government was developing the local maritime industry on the east coast of Johor to Changi. Example was Sebana resort, along the estuary of the Johor river. Then the introduction of ferry services from Belungkor in Kota Tinggi to Changi Point, where cars were also transported both ways. This service could be extended to the Riau islands such as Batam. However, the Ministry of Transport gave the right to Star Cruise to operate on the same route that foused on the ‘cruise to nowhere’ services such as gambling, in international waters. This inadvertently killed the highly potential ferry service.  In this case, the weakness of intra-departmental/minsitry communications and objectives made it strategically advantagous for the Singaporeans to capitalise.

It is very apparent that Malaysia constantly being short-changed when we deal with Singapore. HRH Sultan Johor’s message is clear that Malaysia has to defend its own interests and stick to the original agenda and not deviate into the whims and fancies of these arrogant ‘bananas’ (yellow on the outside, white on the inside – reflecting their true self as agents of the West).