the __earthinc

I’m not sure how to react to the announcement that Malaysia and Singapore have agreed in principle to build a straight bridge in order to replace the Causeway. Reason is, Malaysia relented on two points: airspace and sand supply.

In return of Singaporean cooperation for a straight bridge, Singapore wants to use Malaysian airspace to train its air force and a guaranteed sand supply to continue its reclamation projects. Without going too deep into the issue, I’d say this as highly unreasonable; I feel it’s impossible to meet. That impossible demands and the need to fuel economic growth in southern Malaysia are the reasons why I support a construction of a bridge to replace the Causeway, without Singaporean cooperation.

Concerning air space, I simply don’t trust the Singaporean government and their military even less. Hell, I don’t trust my own government. Singapore says it wants to use Malaysian airspace for training purposes. However, it isn’t too hard for Singapore or anybody for that matter to turn this little maneuver into some sort of espionage missions. I don’t know what high value targets are there in Johor but I bet Singapore would know if Malaysia is to allow Singapore to conduct “training” in Malaysian Johor airspace.

More interesting is sand supply. Singapore has been aggressive in reclaiming lands from the sea; the reclamation projects have attracted Malaysian and Indonesian attention. Both have expressed concerned about the projects but Singapore ignored it. Malaysia was especially concerned with Singaporean reclamation at Tuas in the west and at Pulau Tekong in the east; both border Malaysian state of Johor. In 2003, both countries went to the International Court of Justice to resolve the issue once and for all. The ICJ in turn sided with Singapore with reservations.

Regardless of the result, it doesn’t matter because Singapore had to stop its reclamation effort, thanks to Indonesia. Previously, Indonesia provided the raw materials Singapore needed for its reclamation project. Like Malaysia, Indonesia was suspicious of the Singaporean effort. In the end, Indonesia cut off the supply, fearing Singapore redrawing the Singaporean-Indonesian border. The projects are still on hold. Now, Singapore needs to find a new source of sand. And guess who Singapore is turning to now?

If Malaysia agrees to supply Singapore the sand, it would be an odd thing to do. Malaysia is against Singaporean reclamation project. For Malaysia to supply the sand and enable Singapore to continue a project that Malaysia is so vehemently disagree of, is, again, odd. It defies logic.

Perhaps, this is because Malaysia knows that Singapore could get the sand that its need from somewhere else. We know how Singapore managed to buy a company of strategic importance in Thailand. Given that, it wouldn’t be hard for Singapore to get some sand from Thailand. Maybe here’s is just Malaysia doing a “hey, why not make some money out of it?” act.

Unless Singapore could sweeten the pot – like allowing Malaysians that work in Singapore to withdraw money that the Singaporean government has been withholding – I definitely believe a crooked bridge is a better deal. Of course, a straight bridge is good but circumstances make it not too favorable.

With the bent bridge, Malaysia gets a little less of what it wants without giving Singapore anything. If Malaysia accedes to Singaporean demands, Malaysia would get what it wants by giving too much to Singapore.