Najib broke pledge to build crooked bridge: Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak broke his promise to construct the “Crooked Bridge” linking Johor to Singapore’s side of the Causeway, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has claimed.

The former prime minister told blogger Din Turtle in an interview, which was uploaded on the blog yesterday (April 11), that Mr Najib had said to the media at one time that Malaysia would build the bridge, with or without Singapore’s agreement.

“I was a little bit unhappy that he didn’t do it; he’d promised,” Dr Mahathir said. “It’s not like I wanted to get the contract (for the bridge). I didn’t want to get the contract.

“But my attitude is, I don’t want to ‘kow tow’ to Singapore,” he added, using a colloquial term that means “submit”.

Dr Mahathir also criticised Mr Najib for asking for Singapore’s agreement in the planned Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail link project.

“Are we independent or are we colonials of Singapore? I’m a little proud lah; I have my national pride. I don’t want to bow down to anyone,” said Dr Mahathir.

He also claimed that Mr Najib had told him once at dinner that there is an agreement on the Causeway connecting Johor Baru and Singapore that prohibits projects involving the road link unless both Malaysia and Singapore agree on them.

“There’s no such agreement. We can do things on our side and it’s up to them to do whatever they want on their side,” said Dr Mahathir.

Mr Najib told TV3 in a televised interview on Thursday that Dr Mahathir had wanted the BR1M policy scrapped and the “Crooked Bridge” to be revived, two issues which he said could have been part of the reason why the former PM increased his criticisms towards him.

The so-called “Crooked Bridge” was Dr Mahathir’s idea to replace the Causeway, but was discontinued by his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and believed to be among the reasons why the latter was hounded out of office by the man who put him there.

In recent remarks, Dr Mahathir said he could no longer remain silent and that the days for diplomacy have long passed, adding he will now push for Mr Najib’s resignation openly.

He said the prime minister’s refusal to address allegations such as those surrounding 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and linking him to the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu put Barisan Nasional’s (BN) rule at risk. MALAY MAIL ONLINE