The strong return of Tun M within the corridors of power in Malaysia.
Malaysia: The ‘crooked bridge’ returns
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Instability will be at play and it could lead to another battle of the ‘titans’ within the United Malays National Organization (Umno).
Reports in a local Malaysian newspaper suggests that the famous abandoned ‘crooked bridge’ between Singapore and Malaysia at the Johor Causeway will be back on the table. Instability will be at play and it could lead to another battle of the ‘titans’ within the United Malays National Organization (Umno).
The crooked bridge issue is one that is dear to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the returning leader of the United Malays National Organization (Umno) who is now more powerful than ever behind the scene.
Will do or will not do the ‘crooked bridge’? It will all depend on how powerful Tun M as he is commonly called nowadays is within the Prime Minister’s circle.
Two factors will affect the next decision that the Malaysian government will make on the ‘crooked bridge’: Money and bilateral relations.
The recent meeting between Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and the Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong was warm and cordial, setting the pace for better relations between the two neighbouring states. Prime Minister Najib Razak has been a regular visitor to Singapore as Minister of Defence and is said to have very good relationship with the ruling class in Singapore, which is a good sign as this may quell any attempts of unwarranted trouble between Malaysian and Singapore.
Malaysia-Singapore ties have warmed since Malaysia's outspoken former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad handed power to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi late in 2003. It is getting warmer now; say observers who added that with Najib in power, the crooked bridge may still be a dead venture despite the strong return of Tun M within the corridors of power in Malaysia.
Lately, Tun M said the bridge may be brought back to the limelight due to the new customs lane built in Johor Bahru (Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex) that has created much controversy and congestion in traffic between Malaysia and Singapore. He said that the bridge will help alleviate the congestion and will also benefit the Iskandar project, which was heavily criticized by Tun M when former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the creation of these projects. Tun M was virulent in his criticism of Badawi upon the rejection of the crooked bridge by the Badawi regime.
Malaysia: The ‘crooked bridge’ returns
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Instability will be at play and it could lead to another battle of the ‘titans’ within the United Malays National Organization (Umno).
Reports in a local Malaysian newspaper suggests that the famous abandoned ‘crooked bridge’ between Singapore and Malaysia at the Johor Causeway will be back on the table. Instability will be at play and it could lead to another battle of the ‘titans’ within the United Malays National Organization (Umno).
The crooked bridge issue is one that is dear to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the returning leader of the United Malays National Organization (Umno) who is now more powerful than ever behind the scene.
Will do or will not do the ‘crooked bridge’? It will all depend on how powerful Tun M as he is commonly called nowadays is within the Prime Minister’s circle.
Two factors will affect the next decision that the Malaysian government will make on the ‘crooked bridge’: Money and bilateral relations.
The recent meeting between Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and the Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong was warm and cordial, setting the pace for better relations between the two neighbouring states. Prime Minister Najib Razak has been a regular visitor to Singapore as Minister of Defence and is said to have very good relationship with the ruling class in Singapore, which is a good sign as this may quell any attempts of unwarranted trouble between Malaysian and Singapore.
Malaysia-Singapore ties have warmed since Malaysia's outspoken former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad handed power to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi late in 2003. It is getting warmer now; say observers who added that with Najib in power, the crooked bridge may still be a dead venture despite the strong return of Tun M within the corridors of power in Malaysia.
Lately, Tun M said the bridge may be brought back to the limelight due to the new customs lane built in Johor Bahru (Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex) that has created much controversy and congestion in traffic between Malaysia and Singapore. He said that the bridge will help alleviate the congestion and will also benefit the Iskandar project, which was heavily criticized by Tun M when former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the creation of these projects. Tun M was virulent in his criticism of Badawi upon the rejection of the crooked bridge by the Badawi regime.
