Monday, November 06, 2006

CALL TO DEMOLISH CAUSEWAY
"CURIOUS", SAYS S'PORE

SINGAPORE, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Singapore Foreign Ministry has described as "curious" the remark by the Sultan of Johor who called for the demolition of the Johor Causeway.

A ministry spokesman said in a Channel NewsAsia (CNA) report that Singapore did not believe the call represented the Malaysian government's position.

Sultan Iskandar caused a stir at the launching of the multi-billion ringgit South Johor Economic Region (SJER) project at Danga Bay in Johor Baharu yesterday when he said in an off-the-text remark that the causeway should be demolished.

"Causeway tu, bukakan...baru negeri Johor ni maju (the causeway has to be demolished, only then Johor will develop," the Sultan said before launching the project which was televised live.

CNA had also asked Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar for his reaction on the Sultan's call.

Syed Hamid said: "I think the most important thing is for us to put the speech and comment in its proper context.

"I think what is most important is that we must always learn from the lessons of the past and make sure whatever development we are going to undertake will bring benefit to our well-being, for the good of our people."

BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/printable.php?id=227890

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