Najib: Cabinet stands by decision

KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet is standing firm on its decision not to proceed with a bridge on the Malaysian side of the Johor Strait to replace the Causeway. This is not tantamount to surrendering the country’s sovereignty as suggested by some quarters, the Cabinet declared at its latest meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Wednesday.

"In fact, to accept or accede to Singapore’s request for sand and airspace, taking into account public sentiments and sensitivities, could be perceived as Malaysia compromising its sovereignty," Najib said in a statement yesterday.

"The Government, from 2000 until now, has not changed its decision not to export sand to Singapore."

"The Cabinet considered that the decision taken by the Government was a correct decision and should not in any way be construed as giving up the right to proceed with the bridge proposal to replace the Johor Causeway," he said.

Najib said the termination of the half-bridge contract with Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd could not be construed as a sign that the Government had surrendered Malaysia’s sovereignty.

As an independent and sovereign country, Malaysia had complete power and authority over its territory, he said.

In exercising that authority, he added, no other country could interfere with its affairs.

Malaysia’s aim and focus during discussions between both countries’ senior officials had been to secure Singapore’s agreement to build a full straight bridge.

The issues of airspace and sand were proposed by Singapore on the basis of "a balance of mutual benefits".

The mandate given to the Malaysian delegation to discuss the two issues with Singapore was never intended to be the Government’s final decision to agree to Singapore’s request, said the Deputy Prime Minister.

"Having taken into account all factors, the Government decided not to go ahead with the construction of the bridge as it did not agree to give airspace and sand.

"As such, the issue of Malaysia giving up its sovereignty, or Malaysia being a ‘half-past-six country with no guts’, does not arise," he said.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, upset with the decision to scrap the bridge project, criticised the Government for turning Malaysia into "a half-past-six country with no guts".

He also accused the Government of being interested only in selling sand to the republic.

On Wednesday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, during a Parliament session, criticised Dr Mahathir for trying to undermine the Government.

Dr Mahathir had also claimed that the Wayleave Agreements made it clear that there was no specific provision for consulting and obtaining the necessary approval of Singapore for the relocation of Singapore’s Public Utility Board’s water pipelines, to allow Malaysia to build the bridge on its own.

Najib explained that the Wayleave Agreements, which purportedly allowed Malaysia to remove PUB water pipelines on six months’ notice, should not be looked at separately.

"I would like to point out that the Wayleave Agreements, the 1961 and 1962 Johor-Singapore Water Agreements respectively, and the 1965 Separation Agreement must be considered in their entirety to determine the rights and obligations of both Malaysia and Singapore," he said.

He added that any further clarifications, if necessary, would be made by the Attorney-General, taking into account Malaysia’s national interests.