Syed Hamid still keen on bridge project

THE bridge project to replace the Causeway was scrapped more than a year ago but it is by no means forgotten.
There are senior Malaysian leaders who still want to see it built, and Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar is one of them.
He told The Straits Times yesterday that, as a Johorean, he would like to see the bridge built.
'I think the Causeway is out of date, not in tune with times. We need the bridge. It is not as a gesture of goodwill (from Singapore), but it is good for both countries,' he said.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi announced last year that the project had been scrapped as Malaysia could not accept Singapore's requests for sand and the use of airspace in exchange for cooperation on the project.
The bridge - one of the outstanding bilateral issues between Singapore and Malaysia - is not on the agenda for next week's meeting between the two countries' prime ministers.
Nevertheless, there is speculation that it could be revived in the not-too-distant future.
This was sparked by comments from MP for Johor Baru Shahrir Samad several weeks ago.
He said he would not be surprised if Singapore initiated the revival of the project because of its benefits. These were his personal views.
The speculation was bolstered by a private- sector proposal for a high-speed train between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
'Definitely if you want to have a fast train, you need a bridge unless it goes underground. It is a private-sector initiative, I do not know (the details),' Datuk Seri Syed Hamid said.
'Whatever it is, we want the bridge.'

tunku : it took you so long to come up with this statement syed hamid. it's not you who still keen on the bridge project but majority of the malaysian are keen on it and can't waith when it will be build.well you can still build the bridge right now without singapore's consent as per the plan it's only on our side.don't just make statement, build it asap.