KL 'violates' int'l law over new bridge plan to S'pore

KL 'violates' int'l law over new bridge plan to S'pore

Agencies, Singapore

Malaysia would be violating international law if it pursues a plan to demolish a bridge linking itself with neighboring Singapore and start work on a new one, Singapore's foreign minister said on Monday.

S. Jayakumar told parliament that a unilateral proposal from its large northern neighbor to construct a new land link was wrong as the bridge was an international facility.

The existing bridge "cannot be lawfully demolished without the approval, agreement and involvement of both States," Jayakumar said.

Leo Michael Toyad, Malaysia's Deputy Foreign Minister, said in September last year that his administration did not need approval from Singapore to begin work on the bridge. Without the city- state's approval, the new bridge was likely to end dangling in the middle of the Johor Straits, which separates the two Southeast Asian neighbors.

Everyday, nearly 100,000 Malaysians use the current bridge to commute to work in Singapore. Kuala Lumpur feels the new bridge would ease congestion and increase passenger traffic between the two countries.

Construction of the new bridge, initially expected to be completed by 2005, was part of a package deal that included an extension of Malaysia's water supply to Singapore beyond 2061. But Malaysia called off talks in 2002 after it alleged the city- state was not prepared to pay it a fair price for raw water.

Despite the difference, however, Singapore called on Monday for an end to the long-standing acrimony that has plagued relations with Malaysia as it laid the groundwork for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's first visit here as Malaysian prime minister.

Jayakumar said it was time to open a new chapter between the two nations, stressing warmer ties would be of mutual benefit.

"I think the challenge for both sides in the new era is to look for ways of starting a new chapter in bilateral relations," Jayakumar said ahead of Abdullah's one-day visit here next Monday.

"Yes, there are issues from the old era which have to be addressed but we have to find a way of addressing them in a way that we do not reopen the acrimonious past which we have traveled in previous years."

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is due to meet his Singapore counterpart Goh Chok Tong on Jan. 12 on his first official visit to the island-nation since replacing Mahathir Mohamad in October.