Crooked Bridge Construction across the Straits of Johor was canceled in 2006. After 9 years, whether it be revived?
Identification
Crooked Bridge Construction across the Straits of Johor was canceled by the government on 12 April 2006. It is now nine years the project stalled. Are there any signs that it will be revived?
Causeway
Singapore Island is no longer an island that is actually when the causeway over 1, 056m linking Johor Bahru and Singapore was opened to traffic in 1927. As the first ground between Malaya and Singapore, its construction is an engineering marvel at the time. However, what Eegor seen by Johor leader at that time was the British chicanery - construction of ponds can turn off the Straits of Johor as a major cruise lines in the Malay Archipelago at that time.
Causeway linking Malaysia Skudai Highway and Highway next to Bukit Timah, Singapore, traced more than 60, 000 vehicles per day. In addition to functioning as a three-lane route for vehicles, Causeway also put water pipes and rails that connect the two countries. Apart from the Causeway, Singapore is also linked to Malaysia via the Second Link Bridge over the 1.92km, which commenced operations since 1998.
Despite its grandeur as connecting two countries, the Causeway has some drawbacks. Unlike the Second Link Bridge which allows ships sail under it, Causeway completely close the Straits of Johor as a maritime path connecting East and West. Ships that sail from the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in northwest southeast Johor had to circumnavigate the island of Singapore to Pasir Gudang Port, which is located behind the embankment, thus increasing the duration of the cruise.
Moreover, the Causeway prevent movement of ocean water continuously in the Straits of Johor, resulting in pollution of the sea in areas near ponds around Johor Bahru City. With the increasing amount of traffic in and out of Singapore every year, is said to be 88 years old causeway is no longer able to complete its work with should and must be replaced with a bridge.
Crooked Bridge Project
The idea is to replace the causeway with a bridge was proposed by former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on June 5, 1996. After a series of discussions, the two countries failed to reach a decision to build a straight bridge to replace the causeway spanning the Straits of Johor worn it.
Malaysia was determined to build a crooked bridge 25 meters above sea level height decreased gradually toward the international border in the Straits of Johor causeway connecting it directly with the Singapore side. Crooked Bridge, if completed, will be an iconic bridge berbetuk 'S' in the world, enhancing the reputation of Johor Bahru as the main southern entrance to the country.
However, in April 2006, the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdullah Badawi, announced the cancellation of the project. Once the project is canceled, there are some proposals for this project to be revived, especially from the former Prime Minister, nicknamed the Father of Modernisation of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
Build Or Not?
Iskandar Malaysia project since its establishment in 2006, terselatan district in the state of Johor has experienced favorable development Oden. The development area covering 2,217 square kilometers covering Johor Bahru City and nearby towns such as Pontiam, Senai, Pasir Gudang and Nusajaya.
District of Johor Bahru, the location where the crooked bridge will be built, located in the middle of the Iskandar Malaysia. Therefore, Malaysia should consider to revive the crooked bridge project. This project can increase the potential of Johor as a shipping hub for the region, Singapore's standing.
With Crooked Bridge height that allows ships to sail through, the Straits of Johor be reopened for the purpose of navigation after 'closed' for 88 years, becoming a major hub pulse two major ports in Johor namely the Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Pasir Gudang,
With the opening of the Straits of Johor to the activities of international cruise ships that sail the Straits of Johor can practice the right of transit passage as enshrined in the Convention on the Organisation of the United Nations Law of the Sea when the Straits of Johor to the heart of the main hub of the East-West maritime routes in region.
Reopening of the Straits of Johor to the international shipping can provide an alternative way for sailors with shipping routes already too crowded through the Straits of Singapore, which is traversed more than 75, 000 ships per year. However, the narrow Johor Strait area compared to the Strait of Singapore will encourage large vessels such as very large crude carrier (VLCC) and ultra large crude carriers (ULCC) to sail the sea lanes that are more suitable, namely through the Straits of Singapore.
What we know about 'crooked bridge'?
Curved bridge to replace the Causeway This can help reduce traffic congestion in the central city of Johor Bahru. The proposed Crooked Bridge can reduce pollution because it enables the stagnant waters of the Straits of Johor to flow freely.
During the Petronas Twin Towers intended for construction, many negative comments that say this project is a white elephant projects. But now, this is the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur managed to put the city on the world map by attracting many tourists to Malaysia. It is true Kuala Lumpur has many tourist spots but the Petronas Twin Towers is the most popular around the world. According to Business Insider magazine, Kuala Lumpur has been listed as the ninth largest city in the world to visit in 2015 by receiving 11.2 million tourists beat other major cities such as Taipei, Dubai, Rome and Istanbul. Such as the Petronas Twin Towers, the proposed crooked bridge can become the international icon for the city of Johor Bahru, complete with the city's other tourist spots like Desaru, Johor Premium Outlets and Legoland.
Conclusion
Although it was canceled in 2006, the crooked bridge project proposed should be considered again and revived. It is a visionary project that could generate economies of southern Johor. However, the main question that should answer the Malaysian government is - build or not?
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* Dr. Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli is a visiting professor at the Law School, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia and a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Shariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.
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