The Star Online > Nation

Saturday October 22, 2005

No agreement on bridge plan

SINGAPORE: Singapore has denied that it has “agreed in principle” during recent talks in Putrajaya pertaining to the proposed construction of a bridge to replace the causeway. 

A spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said although the officials from both sides had a good meeting over the issue on Wednesday, nothing had been agreed to on the bridge or other outstanding bilateral issues. 

“In particular, Singapore has not agreed 'in principle' to the construction of the bridge to replace the Causeway. Such speculative reports are counterproductive while these discussions are ongoing,” the spokesman said in a statement in response to a report in a local English daily titled “Bridge talks end on promising note”. 

The ministry reiterated its stand that it would not be helpful to publicise the details of discussion on the outstanding bilateral issues at this juncture. 

The talks on Wednesday were the second after the one in September.  

The Singaporean delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Ministry permanent secretary Peter Ho, while the Malaysian side was headed by Foreign Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak. 

Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo told the Parliament on Monday that the republic could only agree to Malaysia's proposal to replace the Causeway with a bridge if there was a “balance of benefits” to both sides. 

He warned of “serious implications” if Malaysia went ahead with the plan to build its half of the bridge without the agreement from Singapore. – Bernama