Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Thursday (Aug 30) there was “some” plan to construct a 3rd link to Singapore, amid reports that the southern state of Johor was in talks to construct a bridge that might be accomplished inside three or 4 years.
Singapore is currently connected to Johor by a busy causeway within the north and a bridge from Tuas, the western a part of the island nation.
Asked concerning the plan to construct a 3rd link, Tun Dr Mahathir told reporters in Kuala Lumpur: “There is a plan within the making… there may be a plan already.”
He didn’t provide any further details.
“We have not received any official proposal or communication from Malaysia regarding a third link between Singapore and Malaysia,” a Singapore Transport Ministry spokesman told Reuters on Thursday evening.
Malaysian day by day The Star quoted Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian as saying the state government was in talks with the corporate over the third link project, which might be accomplished inside the subsequent three to 4 years.
Datuk Osman said the proposed bridge – which might start at Pengerang near Kota Tinggi and end on Singapore’s Pulau Ubin island – could help ease traffic congestion on the 2 existing land links between the 2 countries.
“I spoke to stakeholders yesterday about the possibility of a third link from eastern Johor. We noticed that the area was close to Pulau Ubin – only about 3km away,” Mr Osman told reporters.
Mr Osman said the link would likely have a special customs and immigration system to that used on the Causeway and Tuas Second Link.
“We can use the brand new system. It may end up that Singapore and Malaysian immigration checks will probably be carried out just once, either in Pengerang or Pulau Ubin,” the minister said.
He added that the project continues to be within the research phase and the outcomes will probably be presented to the federal government for study.
Source : Strait Times
