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12-04-06, 23:20
Malaysia halts Singapore bridge
Malaysia says it will abandon the construction of a controversial bridge to Singapore.
The prime minister said the government had decided not to proceed with the project, on which it began work in January without Singapore's agreement.
Malaysia also suggested the move would mean related potential deals, including one on Singapore's access to Malaysian air space, would be put on hold.
The bridge has been a major source of tension between the two countries.
Malaysia wanted to replace an ageing 1km- (0.66 mile-) long causeway between the two countries with a modern bridge, allowing ships to pass underneath it.
Malaysia said this would ease congestion on the causeway, and in January said it would begin building its half of the bridge.
But Singapore said it was concerned about the cost of the project and the impact on the environment.
Unresolved issues
Singapore has suggested that a decision on the bridge issue should be part of a package deal on unresolved bilateral issues.
Singapore has requested military access to Malaysia's airspace, something ordinary Malaysians have opposed. The sale of sand to Singapore for a land reclamation project has also been under discussion.
But Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said in a statement that "all negotiations relating to the bridge" would now be halted.
He said the decision was made taking into consideration "the voice and sentiment of the people, particularly over sand and airspace".
The Singaporean Foreign Ministry issued a one-line response to the move.
"We are surprised at this sudden decision when negotiations for a full bridge were still ongoing," it said.
The move by Malaysia is likely to strain ties, analysts say, leaving the two neighbours in a stalemate over long-standing disputes.
Malaysia plans 'crooked' bridge
By Jonathan Kent
BBC News, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia says it will go ahead with controversial plans to build a crooked bridge across half the strait it shares with Singapore.
It took the decision unilaterally after talks about replacing an existing causeway failed to produce agreement.
The plan for the bizarre bridge was first put forward by Malaysia's former leader Mahatir Mohammad.
The bridge is one of many issues to strain ties between Malaysia and Singapore since their union ended.
The Malaysians want to replace the causeway that links it to the island state with a bridge.
The causeway hampers access to ports on the Malaysian side, benefiting Singapore whose economy relies heavily on its port.
So the Malaysians now say they will simply replace their half of the causeway.
But because the span is short and the bridge will need to gain height to allow shipping to pass beneath it, it will have to be crooked.
The Malaysians are calling it the "scenic bridge", but say if the Singaporeans want it to be straight and less scenic they will have to come back to the table and agree to replace the whole causeway with a single span.
One Malaysian politician told the Star newspaper that the shape of the bridge would be a reflection of relations between the two countries.
Singaporean sources told the BBC that this statement implies the Singaporeans are straight while the Malaysians are crooked .
:confused:
Malaysia says it will abandon the construction of a controversial bridge to Singapore.
The prime minister said the government had decided not to proceed with the project, on which it began work in January without Singapore's agreement.
Malaysia also suggested the move would mean related potential deals, including one on Singapore's access to Malaysian air space, would be put on hold.
The bridge has been a major source of tension between the two countries.
Malaysia wanted to replace an ageing 1km- (0.66 mile-) long causeway between the two countries with a modern bridge, allowing ships to pass underneath it.
Malaysia said this would ease congestion on the causeway, and in January said it would begin building its half of the bridge.
But Singapore said it was concerned about the cost of the project and the impact on the environment.
Unresolved issues
Singapore has suggested that a decision on the bridge issue should be part of a package deal on unresolved bilateral issues.
Singapore has requested military access to Malaysia's airspace, something ordinary Malaysians have opposed. The sale of sand to Singapore for a land reclamation project has also been under discussion.
But Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said in a statement that "all negotiations relating to the bridge" would now be halted.
He said the decision was made taking into consideration "the voice and sentiment of the people, particularly over sand and airspace".
The Singaporean Foreign Ministry issued a one-line response to the move.
"We are surprised at this sudden decision when negotiations for a full bridge were still ongoing," it said.
The move by Malaysia is likely to strain ties, analysts say, leaving the two neighbours in a stalemate over long-standing disputes.
Malaysia plans 'crooked' bridge
By Jonathan Kent
BBC News, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia says it will go ahead with controversial plans to build a crooked bridge across half the strait it shares with Singapore.
It took the decision unilaterally after talks about replacing an existing causeway failed to produce agreement.
The plan for the bizarre bridge was first put forward by Malaysia's former leader Mahatir Mohammad.
The bridge is one of many issues to strain ties between Malaysia and Singapore since their union ended.
The Malaysians want to replace the causeway that links it to the island state with a bridge.
The causeway hampers access to ports on the Malaysian side, benefiting Singapore whose economy relies heavily on its port.
So the Malaysians now say they will simply replace their half of the causeway.
But because the span is short and the bridge will need to gain height to allow shipping to pass beneath it, it will have to be crooked.
The Malaysians are calling it the "scenic bridge", but say if the Singaporeans want it to be straight and less scenic they will have to come back to the table and agree to replace the whole causeway with a single span.
One Malaysian politician told the Star newspaper that the shape of the bridge would be a reflection of relations between the two countries.
Singaporean sources told the BBC that this statement implies the Singaporeans are straight while the Malaysians are crooked .
:confused: