KUALA LUMPUR, 20 April 2009: The Former Malaysian Customs Officers’ Association (Perbekas) has welcomed the suggestion from several parties to continue with the construction of the crooked bridge connecting Malaysia and Singapore.
Its president, Datuk Abdul Rahman Manan, said this was because the association seriously regarded the traffic congestion between Malaysia and Singapore through the Johor-Singapore Causeway and the new Custom, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ).
He said they were unable to cater to the congestion, in addition to the lack of sidewalk for pedestrians which was present in the old complex.
“The situation is not only an inconvenience to tourists, lorry and car drivers, but also personnel from the customs, immigration and health, among others,” he said in a statement here today.
Abdul Rahman said the association was confident that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would view this with concern for the sake of neighbouring countries. — Bernama
Abdullah Badawi says
This is nonsense. The crooked bridge will require a suspended swing to allow ships to pass under. There is no way the government will allow anyone to walk pass as the risk is simply too high.
The new bridge will not divert traffic back into Johor Baru. The traffic is diverted away from JB because of the location and roads leaving the CIQ are going to Stulang which is away from the JB centre. Building a bridge will not change the exit points of the CIQ.
The real reason Mahathir wants to build the bridge is because there is possibly money to be made from its construction by certain parties, who may have political leanings.