1. I wrote a few weeks ago that I do not understand why our government when they talk about improving the relationship with Singapore it wants to start with going into some JV development with Singapore. It is quite clear that when Malaysian goes into building mega bridges, many people will make money. Some people will make tons of money even without lifting gravel.
2. Our leader’s greatest weakness is their refusal to learn from history which has shown that Singapore does not exactly do things the way we do. They do their homework to ensure that they (the Singapore Government) will win in the short and long run. In our case we will ensure that some people win in the short run. No body cares about the long term impact.
3. I opposed the idea of building a physical bridge between Malaysia and Singapore. I opposed because I do not trust our government that they will look into Malaysia best interest in building this bridge. It will be more about the interest of a few people.
4. Malaysia must look beyond building physical structures as a symbol of relationship. We already have a structure (the causeway) that symbolizes how bad the relationships are. We must focus on developing relationship with the next generation of Singapore leaders. What I am talking about is building emotional and relationship bridges.
5. Many Johorean and Malaysians have spoken. Najib seems to be deaf. The latest comment came from the Sultan of Johor. His message is loud and clear. What is sickening is that despite the people not wanting the bridge, the government is still going ahead with feasibility study. Maybe some people will make a few millions just from a study alone. I think the government need to do a need analysis first before even thinking about doing any feasibility studies.
6. While the people can speculate on the reasons behind the Johor Royalty statement, I believe it has very little to do with what the people in Johor wants. The Sultan of Johor certainly has its own needs and interest that also need to be addressed. What exactly is the Royal interest in this matter is everyone educated guess. We must also never forget the strong relationship Mahathir has with the Johor Royal Family.
7. Personally I believe there is a need to decouple the building of concrete bridge and building the relationship with our neighbour. We need to strengthen the bond with the people of Singapore. There is too much bad blood between our previous leaders. We cannot blame Singapore for most of the reason.
8. We need to look into the mirror and ask how much of it is due to our own folly. Just look at what Daim did in forming a Points of Agreement with Singapore and later turn it around and says it actually meant an MOU. Ask any reasonably educated man in the street and they will confirm that there is a big difference between a POA and MOU. This is our own folly. There are some greedy people in between this agreement.
9. We need to invest in the future. The investment would be in the formed of Singapore future leaders and our own future leaders. We need to start to improve this bond of relationship. The bridge can wait. The relationship cant.
talking about the bridge, this is really stupid idea. The thrid bridge is far away from JB area. The proposed area is nothing.
Let’s talk about the 2nd bridge. I stayed in Jb more than 15 years. Most people are still using old bridge to Singapore although 2nd bridge have been there more than 5 years. The 1st reason is 2nd bridge is far away from people who stay in Kulai, Senai, Skudai, Ulu Titam, Kota Tinggi & Pasir Gudang. Do you know that among the areas I mentioned, the town nearest to 2nd bridge is Skudai, which is 20km from 2nd bridge while the distance to 1st bridge is 10km.
2nd reason is the cost to go & return from Singapore. For 1st bridge, you need to pay toll malaysia RM2.90 & Singapore toll S$1.20, that all. For 2nd bridge, you need to pay toll malaysia RM21.60 plus RM4.60(toll at highway to 2nd bridge) & Singapore toll S$9.20.
Add up together, it’s means you pay RM5.80 for 1st bridge while RM48.30 for 2nd bridge. Hi, it’s 8 times higher cost for you to choose 2nd bridge. So, you can imagine that 1st bridge may jam like hell but 2nd bridge is just nice to cross. That’s anaother reason why Johor government center need to move to Iskandar Area which is near to 2nd bridge.
As 2nd bridge is also not economic to use, what will happen if 3rd bridge is built??? The 1st time I saw the news of 3rd bridge, my mind come out with 1 idea: coruption – money. And, I don;t think Singapore will agree on it.
Like our government like to say: One more white elephant project from BN.
petikan dari 1malaysia.
‘Pada 1995, Dato’ Sri Najib mengalami perubahan dalam portfolio kabinet, yang mana beliau telah dilantik sebagai Menteri Pelajaran. Beliau telah mengambil cabaran untuk menyambut aspirasi Malaysia yang baru sahaja diumumkan ketika itu, untuk menjadi sebuah negara maju yang sepenuhnya pada tahun 2020. Sepanjang tempoh lima tahun perkhidmatannya, Najib telah mewujudkan mekanisme yang dapat membolehkan generasi rakyat Malaysia menghadapi cabaran masa mendatang. Beliau telah menstrukturkan semula Kementerian ini, memperbadankan universiti dan institusi awam, serta menggalakkan kerjasama dengan universiti dan institusi luar negara. Langkah ini telah memberikan lebih banyak peluang pendidikan kepada rakyat Malaysia dan meletakkan Malaysia sebagai satu hab pembelajaran serantau. Dato’ Sri Najib juga telah meningkatkan sijil perguruan kepada status diploma, supaya guru-guru dalam kategori tersebut dapat menerima gaji permulaan bulanan yang lebih tinggi.’
Awal tahun 90 an
harga sijil diploma (swasta) > = RM4k
tangga gaji bagi diploma graduate > = RM800 (swasta)
96 – 2003
Diploma > = RM 8k
96 – 99 : Gaji > = RM1.2k to RM1.6k
99 – awal 2000 : Gaji > = RM500 (graduate scheme) -
2004 – present
Diploma > = RM 15k ( up to RM 21k)
Gaji = RM1.2k – RM1.8k
Education makin mahal tapi tahap pendapatan rakyat masih tak banyak berubah.
Renung2kanlah kita pasal si Najib nie.
No need another bridge-just improve the flow between the 2 points eg smart card travel,gantries etc.Lot of the jams due to paperwork at causeway.
Another perceptive piece again.
I also do think we need to mend relationships more than building physical bridges and it starts by stopping the ‘ketuanan melayu’ rethoric from Utusan and dismantling the racist brainwashing from Biro Tatanegara.
All the racist rethoric and posturing from Utusan, UMNO leaders and Biro Tatanegara is the real reason why Malaysia will never be united. And when malays buy into all these racist rethoric, inevitably it affects relationship with Singapore for everyone knows that Singapore is that ‘chinese island in a malay sea’.
I look forward to that day when we can look at each other without looking at the colour of our skin.
There must be sincerity , trust , give and take in any relationship. Putting aside the sincerity , Malaysia-Singapore relationship is a case of one party do not trust the other party who is bend on taking advantage of the other.
Malaysia folly has always been to take the short term gain at the expense of the long haul. It is the interest of few people and not the country.
Singapore has taken advantage of the situation .Singapore approach is simple .Simply be the best expertise in finance and service .Isn’t it an irony that Malaysia with her rich natural resources has to go through Singapore to trade her wealth.
It is simply because Malaysia took the easy route of going through her southern neighbour rather than spend a little bit more in the initial stage to build her own capabalities and expertise.
Singapore future leaders are fully aware of the scenerio. The question is whether Malaysia future leader will repeat the same mistake of taking short term gains for their own immediate interest ?
Dr, it’s not about the bridge, the strained relationship or the future. It’s about the money, commission, kickback, undertable $$$ etc. Over the past 2 decades, can we recall anything remotely done for the rakyat or for the future? Putrajaya? That’s a major waste of money! KLIA? Heck, we need a separate LCCT and insanely another one was proposed not far from the existing ones! PKFZ? Scratching your head already? With UMNO’s appointed PM, it’s not about what’s he’s doing for Malaysia! It’s about how much money ( mega project) that he can create to swindle and leave the bill to be paid by the rakyat. During Mahadey’s time, it was Putrajaya, KLIA, KLCC. Again in AAB time, the luxury plane, IDR, second Penang bridge land deal, Terengganu’s royalty monies. Now it’s Najib’s turn. For starters it’s the submarine, Sukhois and to be sure it’s not enough. Najib is looking for more project ( ways) to swindle the country. One things for sure, hundreds of Billions have gone down the drain and still we have inadequate hospitals, schools, universities and “cekik darah” infrastructures ( tolls) and utilities ( TNB, Syabas, IWK etc). So expect more mega project to be proposed cos Najib has not filled his quota yet. What do you expect from scoundrels?
Dear Hamba
There is some truth in what you wrote