Replacement of the Causeway
The ongoing talks between Singapore and Malaysia to replace the Causeway still do not appear to be going anywhere. In fact, I strongly suspect it will not go anywhere as long as the differences between the 2 countries' negotiating styles remain.
While there was an agreement that details of ongoing talks will not be released to the media so that external interference is kept to a minimal, once and again, the Malaysian media had somehow gained knowledge of details for reporting. Even the recent decision of Malaysia to go ahead with building a crooked half bridge, which is nowadays euphemistically called a "scenic" bridge, was known by Singapore only via the Malaysian media and not through official channels.
Maybe my views are bias as a Singaporean but I do not see how a crooked bridge can be scenic. If Malaysia does really go ahead with building the crooked bridge to replace the Causeway, then it will be a tangible representation of the relations between the 2 countries. Singapore, straight and direct. Malaysia, roundabout and indirect. Furthermore, how does such a unilateral decision abide by the International Tribunal for Law of the Sea (Itols) ruling in 2003 that BOTH sides have to cooperate in the management of the common marine environment in the Johor Strait?
From Mahathir bin Mohamad to today's Syed Hamid Albar, they had expressed frustrations at Singapore's style of negotiations, by the book and striving for mutually beneficial outcomes. With such a situation, it will really take a lot of diplomatic maneuvering to ensure neither side gets the short end of the deal.
While there was an agreement that details of ongoing talks will not be released to the media so that external interference is kept to a minimal, once and again, the Malaysian media had somehow gained knowledge of details for reporting. Even the recent decision of Malaysia to go ahead with building a crooked half bridge, which is nowadays euphemistically called a "scenic" bridge, was known by Singapore only via the Malaysian media and not through official channels.
Maybe my views are bias as a Singaporean but I do not see how a crooked bridge can be scenic. If Malaysia does really go ahead with building the crooked bridge to replace the Causeway, then it will be a tangible representation of the relations between the 2 countries. Singapore, straight and direct. Malaysia, roundabout and indirect. Furthermore, how does such a unilateral decision abide by the International Tribunal for Law of the Sea (Itols) ruling in 2003 that BOTH sides have to cooperate in the management of the common marine environment in the Johor Strait?
From Mahathir bin Mohamad to today's Syed Hamid Albar, they had expressed frustrations at Singapore's style of negotiations, by the book and striving for mutually beneficial outcomes. With such a situation, it will really take a lot of diplomatic maneuvering to ensure neither side gets the short end of the deal.
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