Azmin says crooked bridge project not priority for govt

Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (pic) says he will look into the proposal for the "crooked bridge" project by the Johor state government, but maintains the priority remains on projects that will benefit the rakyat.

Azmin said he would look into the proposal once the Johor state government raised it at the federal level.

But the government's priority would be projects that would directly benefit the rakyat, he explained.

"For example like roads and hospitals that would benefit the rakyat," he said, adding that projects like the crooked bridge would depend on the country's fiscal situation, which he described as "not good at present".

"Once we see the proposal, the Ministry will look into the matter and see whether we will have the capacity at this point of time to continue with the project, or maybe consider upon another situation when it is much better for us," he told reporters in Parliament.

It has been reported that Johor plans to build a third bridge in Sungai Rengit in Pengerang, Kota Tinggi district to ease traffic congestion at the Johor Causeway and the Second Link Crossing.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian said the bridge would link the southeast part of Johor with Pulau Ubin in Singapore.

Osman also said on Tuesday (Oct 16) that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was keen to revisit the idea of the crooked bridge project linking Johor to Singapore.

The project was mooted by Dr Mahathir before he retired as premier in 2003 but his successor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, cancelled it when he took office.