Royal Demolition Order, Part 2
Almost all media reports did injustice to the call by the Sultan of Johor to demolish the causeway linking the southern Malaysian city of Johor Baru and Singapore.
Bernama, The Star, New Straits Times and Singapore's The Straits Times, which merged reports by The Star and Asia News Network, all reported the Sultan's comments without giving the context that there is a separate idea to build an overhead bridge to replace the causeway.
The idea of a replacement bridge for the 83-year-old causeway was mooted by former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad back in 1996. But the overhead bridge project -- straight or crooked -- has not taken off since then due to very complicated bilateral issues with Singapore.
As a result, all the reports give the impression that the Sultan wants to sever the main link between JB and Singapore without any alternative.
And as a result, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quick to issue a statement to say: "I found the remarks rather curious. I don't believe it represents the Malaysian government's position."
Well, I would find all the reported remarks curious too if the causeway is to be demolished without a replacement bridge to help facilitate the massive cross-border movement of people on both sides of the causeway.
6 comments:
Hey plagiariser asked to go isit? New york talkcocker
I believe the singapore's MFA comment is to point out the fact that the sultan of johor may not have consulted the PM before making a remark which touched on cross border issues. He should have brought up the issue when Dr. M racked it up months ago. One wonders what is his (Sultan of Johor) intention for doing that now.
good point by anonymous surfer -- I believe the singapore's MFA comment is to point out the fact that the sultan of johor may not have consulted the PM before making a remark which touched on cross border issues.
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