Former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad denies allegations the 'crooked bridge' issue plays any part in his criticism of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. – The Malaysian Insider pic, April 13, 2015.Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad continued his attacks against Datuk Seri Najib Razak today, saying he would have demanded the prime minister step down even before the general election in 2013 if he was angry that Putrajaya did not want to build the crooked bridge linking Johor and Singapore.
Dr Mahathir said that was not the reason, adding that the people were asking so many questions that he himself could not answer.
"I was merely asking the person who could provide the answers," the former prime minister said referring to the questions he had asked Najib to answer on the 1Malaysian Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal and the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.
- TMI
"It’s not about crooked bridge, many issues not answered, says Dr M"
ReplyDeleteYes indeed.
In any case, Madey was right with his logic even then...
"Back in 2006-2007, in his effort to unseat Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad openly and publicly chided the PM for not building the ‘Crooked Bridge’.
The bridge, of course, has to be built crooked because it was going to be only half a bridge on the Malaysian side since Singapore does not agree to a bridge on their side of the Causeway.
A straight bridge would be too short and therefore too low while if you want it built high it has to be longer, which means also meandering or crooked.
But why, in the first place, does Malaysia need the bridge to replace the Causeway and why does Singapore resist it?
If the Causeway is maintained ships will not be able to sail through the Johor Straits while a bridge would allow it.
So Johor’s ports would benefit from the bridge. This also means the bridge will help Malaysia’s economy grow while it would have the reverse affect to Singapore.
In short, the bridge will improve Malaysia’s import-export trade while it will take away the business from Singapore. So Malaysia will boom while Singapore’s business will decline.
And this is why Singapore opposes the bridge and also why Malaysia needs the bridge. It all boils down to business rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia.
Singapore will resist any move to boost Malaysia’s trade because this would rob Singapore of that trade. So anything in Malaysia’s favour would be against the interest of Singapore.
Johor can be the alternative to Singapore, argued Dr Mahathir. In fact, Johor can outgrow Singapore. But for that to happen the bridge first needs to be built. And that is why Dr Mahathir insists that the bridge be built and if the Prime Minister does not also agree then he must be ousted and replaced."
April 13, 2015 - The logic of the bridge to Singapore - http://sskeruak.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/the-logic-of-bridge-to-singapore.html
"...The project was mooted by Mahathir’s administration but never carried out by both his successors, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib.
In the video, Dr Mahathir rebuffed insinuations about his interest in the project by saying: “It’s not as if I will die if the bridge is not built.”
“It’s not like I would get a contract for the bridge. You can check and see whether or not I would get a contract. I don’t want a contract but my attitude is I do not want to kowtow to Singapore.”
Singapore has been resolutely opposed to demolishing the Causeway.
Dr Mahathir said he was disappointed because Najib had not kept his word. “My hope is that when he replaced (Abdullah) he would do the crooked bridge and some other things that we agreed to when I was PM… which Abdullah did not do. Najib at one time said we will do it whether Singapore agrees or not …but when he became prime minister, he did not.”
Dr Mahathir has conducted a relentless campaign against Najib in recent months, and has openly asked the prime minister to go..."
April 12, 2015 - Dr M: I don’t want contract for Crooked Bridge - http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/04/12/dr-m-i-dont-want-contract-for-crooked-bridge/
You be the judge.