JOHOR GOVT’S ‘CROOKED BRIDGE’ PROPOSAL
Govt yet to determine if it has fiscal capacity to resume shelved project, says Azmin
Once we receive the proposal, we will look into it... whether or not we have the capacity... as our fiscal situation is not good at present.” DATUK SERI AZMIN ALI Economic Affairs Minister
In my opinion, it’s better to go ahead with the hospital in Pasir Gudang that (the) government postponed and increase the healthcare budget...” TUNKU MAHKOTA JOHOR TUNKU ISMAIL SULTAN IBRAHIM
ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the government has other priorities now and the Johor menteri besar’s proposal to revive the “crooked bridge” project will have to go through due process.
He said the government had yet to determine whether it had the fiscal capacity to resume the shelved project as the priority remained on projects that would directly benefit the people.
“I am sure that the Johor government will bring up this matter at the federal level. Once we receive the proposal, we will look into it and see whether we have the capacity or not to continue with the project, as our fiscal situation is not good at present.
“We need to prioritise things that will benefit the people, for example, roads, schools and hospitals. These should be given priority because they have a direct impact on the people,” he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng declined to weigh in on the issue, stating that questions were best directed at Menteri Besar Osman Sapian.
“It came from the Johor menteri besar, so it’s best to ask him. I was not informed of this matter.”
Meanwhile, Johor DAP has made it clear that it will support the construction of a third bridge linking Johor and Singapore, but a “crooked bridge is not an immediate agenda”.
Its chief, Liew Chin Tong, said priority should be on improving traffic flow between both sides, including construction of the rapid transit system.
“The position of Johor DAP is that we are supportive of the third bridge.
“Our view is that we should focus on what is immediately effective in ensuring that whoever works in Singapore gets the best mode of transport.
“I think the crooked bridge is not an immediate agenda. We can explore it, but the priority is to ensure the traffic flow on both sides is smooth,” he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
The 1.4km crooked bridge, or Jambatan Indah as it is officially called, was meant to replace the 1.06km Johor Causeway which has been in use since 1923.
The project was dropped in 2006 when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became the fifth prime minister.