In a move bound to be welcomed by Malaysians, regardless of their feelings for a third link to Singapore, the Sultan of Johor has given unpopular Prime Minister Najib Razak his due comeuppance by rejecting the proposed construction.
During a royal address while opening a sitting of the state assembly, the Regent of Johor Tengku Ibrahim Ismail announced the Ruler’s wishes.
“I was told by the Sultan to convey his disagreement with the proposal,” the Regent said.
Sultan Iskandar is not unknown for his independent streak and hot temper.
But this time, his obstinacy and courage in going against the country’s chief executive has brought cheer and a glimmer of hope back to Malaysians, fed up with Najib’s bullying tactics.
The PM’s insistence on getting his way, particularly in the Perak crisis, where institutions like the police and the courts were ruthlessly bent to push through decisions supporting his political agenda has left the nation disgusted and depressed.
Even the Perak Ruler Sultan Azlan was not spared, endorsing Najib’s coup d’etat that brought down the Pakatan Rakyat administration and plunging the state into indefinite political and economic turmoil.
“This is a very good smack on the wrist for Najib. He hasn’t even completed three months in office, yet he has already abused and reduced to nothing our law and the reputation of our institutions. Like all bullies, it is about time that he realises that he is not omnipotent,” said a political analyst.
The country’s pride and the independence of institutions
The new bridge was first proposed by Najib during an official visit to the island republic last month.
To be built at a point east of Johor Baru, it will connect to the east coast of Singapore near Changi airport.
According to Najib, this would allow Malaysia to ride on Changi’s connectivity and spur development in the Johor Iskandar investment corridor.
But not all have agreed.
“It’s bullshit,” Johor MP Shahrir Samad told the media earlier this week.
“The government should address the many problems facing the existing bridge, like traffic congestion and so on, and not waste time on something totally unnecessary.”
Like many others, Shahrir believes it would be more productive for Najib to find ways to invigorate the current Causeway Bridge to Woodlands and the Second Link to Tuas.
“There is no clear cut economic viability and return for this project, so definitely there must be careful study and evaluation including on the environmental aspects,” Azrul Azwa, economist at Bank Islam, told Suara Keadilan.
“Given that there is slack in usage especially in the second link and that there are other projects in other states that can also be considered, why not err on the side of caution and freeze it. It doesn’t really make much sense in the first place.”
No sand, no bridge
Another old sore was also dredged up as Najib tried to plug his first mega project - sand in exchange for investment!
Malaysians are generally against the idea of selling mined sand to their neighbour as they consider it a losing proposition, with Malaysia depleting its resources while Singapore increased its stock of reclaimed land.
It also did not help when during a recent official visit, Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew all but demanded that Najib lifted the ban on sand export imposed by ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad in 1997.
“The third bridge from Changi, it is for technical discussions. It does not make sense to us if at the same time, they punish us by making us barge sand from Vietnam,” Kuan Yew had said.
‘It is no benefit to them, it is just to cause us extra losses. So if it is cooperation, it must be across the board and the final balance must be fair on both sides and not just in specific, selective areas.”
The possibility of Najib buckling down in a bid to jump-start the project sparked an outcry, even from leaders within his own Umno party.
PKR leaders too have slammed Kuan Yew’s suggestion, warning they would hold Najib responsible if he lifted the 12-year ban without consulting the people.
“This is a very sensitive issue especially since we lost Batu Putih (Pedra Branca) to Singapore,” said Saifuddin Nasution, PKR MP for Machang.
“So against this sort of backdrop, we must consider the feelings of the people who attach sentimental value to their land. We do not think it is a good idea at all for Singapore to come here and lay down conditions for new investment.”
Malaysiakini
18/06/09
During a royal address while opening a sitting of the state assembly, the Regent of Johor Tengku Ibrahim Ismail announced the Ruler’s wishes.
“I was told by the Sultan to convey his disagreement with the proposal,” the Regent said.
Sultan Iskandar is not unknown for his independent streak and hot temper.
But this time, his obstinacy and courage in going against the country’s chief executive has brought cheer and a glimmer of hope back to Malaysians, fed up with Najib’s bullying tactics.
The PM’s insistence on getting his way, particularly in the Perak crisis, where institutions like the police and the courts were ruthlessly bent to push through decisions supporting his political agenda has left the nation disgusted and depressed.
Even the Perak Ruler Sultan Azlan was not spared, endorsing Najib’s coup d’etat that brought down the Pakatan Rakyat administration and plunging the state into indefinite political and economic turmoil.
“This is a very good smack on the wrist for Najib. He hasn’t even completed three months in office, yet he has already abused and reduced to nothing our law and the reputation of our institutions. Like all bullies, it is about time that he realises that he is not omnipotent,” said a political analyst.
The country’s pride and the independence of institutions
The new bridge was first proposed by Najib during an official visit to the island republic last month.
To be built at a point east of Johor Baru, it will connect to the east coast of Singapore near Changi airport.
According to Najib, this would allow Malaysia to ride on Changi’s connectivity and spur development in the Johor Iskandar investment corridor.
But not all have agreed.
“It’s bullshit,” Johor MP Shahrir Samad told the media earlier this week.
“The government should address the many problems facing the existing bridge, like traffic congestion and so on, and not waste time on something totally unnecessary.”
Like many others, Shahrir believes it would be more productive for Najib to find ways to invigorate the current Causeway Bridge to Woodlands and the Second Link to Tuas.
“There is no clear cut economic viability and return for this project, so definitely there must be careful study and evaluation including on the environmental aspects,” Azrul Azwa, economist at Bank Islam, told Suara Keadilan.
“Given that there is slack in usage especially in the second link and that there are other projects in other states that can also be considered, why not err on the side of caution and freeze it. It doesn’t really make much sense in the first place.”
No sand, no bridge
Another old sore was also dredged up as Najib tried to plug his first mega project - sand in exchange for investment!
Malaysians are generally against the idea of selling mined sand to their neighbour as they consider it a losing proposition, with Malaysia depleting its resources while Singapore increased its stock of reclaimed land.
It also did not help when during a recent official visit, Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew all but demanded that Najib lifted the ban on sand export imposed by ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad in 1997.
“The third bridge from Changi, it is for technical discussions. It does not make sense to us if at the same time, they punish us by making us barge sand from Vietnam,” Kuan Yew had said.
‘It is no benefit to them, it is just to cause us extra losses. So if it is cooperation, it must be across the board and the final balance must be fair on both sides and not just in specific, selective areas.”
The possibility of Najib buckling down in a bid to jump-start the project sparked an outcry, even from leaders within his own Umno party.
PKR leaders too have slammed Kuan Yew’s suggestion, warning they would hold Najib responsible if he lifted the 12-year ban without consulting the people.
“This is a very sensitive issue especially since we lost Batu Putih (Pedra Branca) to Singapore,” said Saifuddin Nasution, PKR MP for Machang.
“So against this sort of backdrop, we must consider the feelings of the people who attach sentimental value to their land. We do not think it is a good idea at all for Singapore to come here and lay down conditions for new investment.”
Malaysiakini
18/06/09
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