Malaysia has not sent Singapore proposals for third link: Desmond Lee

Channel NewsAsia 31 Aug 18;

SINGAPORE: Malaysia has not sent Singapore its proposals to build a third link to Singapore, said Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee in a Facebook post on Friday (Aug 31).

He had met members of the Friends of Ubin Network, who asked him about news reports that Johor was studying the possibility of building a third link to Singapore via Pulau Ubin.

"I explained that we have not received Malaysia’s proposals and do not have details of it," he said, echoing an earlier statement from Singapore's Ministry of Transport.

Singapore is currently linked to Johor via the Woodlands Causeway in the north and the Second Link Bridge at Tuas in the west.

It was reported on Thursday that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that there is "some" plan to build a third link with Singapore, without providing details.

Mr Lee said that if Singapore does receive a proposal, the "relevant agencies will certainly study it carefully".

"Work on the Ubin Project, to keep Pulau Ubin rustic and to protect its heritage and biodiversity, continues," he added.

News of the potential third link was also met with disapproval online, with one nature enthusiast adding that Pulau Ubin should be preserved for its "rustic" features.

"As a nature conservationist and activist, I have seen Ubin transform ... over the past 35 years and my main worry is what would happen to Ubin once it’s been accepted as the choice for the third link," said Ben Lee, founder of nature conservation group Nature Trekker.

"It would be, in short, disastrous. Particularly to all those people who appreciate nature or wildlife."

He added that Pulau Ubin is the "last remnant left in Singapore for people to enjoy the sight, smell and feel of rustic kampung lifestyle".

Source: CNA/aa(ra)


No word on Malaysia's proposal for a third link to Pulau Ubin: Desmond Lee
Today Online 1 Sep 18;

SINGAPORE – The Republic has not received any proposal from the Malaysian government for a third link to Singapore via Pulau Ubin, said Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee.

Mr Lee, who is also Second Minister for National Development, was responding to questions on the sidelines of a meeting he had with the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN) following reports about the possibility of a third link between the two countries.

In a Facebook post on Friday (Aug 31) evening, Mr Lee said: "We have not received Malaysia's proposals and do not have details of it. If we do receive it, the relevant agencies will certainly study it carefully."

He added that Pulau Ubin will be kept rustic and its heritage and biodiversity will be protected.

On Thursday, the Johor state government reportedly expressed interest in developing another link to Singapore on its eastern flank and mooted the idea of a link directly to Pulau Ubin.

Johor Chief Minister Osman Sapian said the state government, which is formed by Malaysia's ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, will send a proposal to the federal government on the matter before further plans can be made.

Later in the day, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad also told media in Kuala Lumpur: "There is some plan in the offing... there is already some plan." No further details were given.

Responding to TODAY's queries on Thursday, a spokesperson from Singapore's Ministry of Transport said: "We have not received any official proposal or communications from Malaysia regarding a third link between Singapore and Malaysia."


Singapore has not received Malaysia's proposals for third link via Pulau Ubin: Desmond Lee
Charmaine Ng Straits Times 31 Aug 18;

SINGAPORE - Singapore has not received Malaysia's proposals for a third link via Pulau Ubin, said Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee on Friday (Aug 31).

He was speaking a day after Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that there was "some" plan to build a third link with Singapore.

Malaysia's The Star newspaper also quoted Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian as saying that the state government was in talks with a company about the third-link project, which could be built in the next three to four years.

Datuk Osman said the proposed bridge - which would start from Pengerang near Kota Tinggi, in Johor, and end at Pulau Ubin, in Singapore - could help ease traffic congestion on the two existing land links between the two countries.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Mr Lee said he was at a meeting with volunteers from Friends of Ubin Network, when he was asked about news reports about the third link.

"I explained that we have not received Malaysia's proposals and do not have details of it. If we do receive it, the relevant agencies will certainly study it carefully," said Mr Lee, who is also Second Minister for National Development.

"Work on the Ubin Project, to keep Pulau Ubin rustic and to protect its heritage and biodiversity continues," he added.


Singapore to study Malaysia's proposal on Third Link once received
Bernama New Straits Times 1 Sep 18;

SINGAPORE: Singapore will study carefully Malaysia’s proposals to have a third bridge linking Johor with Singapore via Pulau Ubin once it is on the table.

As for now, Singapore has yet to receive any official proposals from Malaysia.

“If we do receive it, the relevant agencies will certainly study it carefully,” Singapore Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee wrote on his Facebook page late Friday evening.

Lee, who is also the Second Minister for National Development, was at Pulau Ubin for a quarterly meeting with members of the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN).

Lee said he was asked about news reports that Johor was studying the possibility of the third link on the sidelines of the meeting.

“I explained that we have not received Malaysia’s proposals and do not have details of it,” he wrote.

Lee assured FUN’s members that work on the Ubin Project, including a restoration study of kampung houses .

“We will keep Pulau Ubin rustic and protect its heritage and biodiversity,” he wrote.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian, had on Aug 30, said the state government planned to build the third link to ease traffic congestion at the Johor Causeway and second link crossing.

However, Osman said a proposal would first be sent to the federal government for due diligence.

The plan is to link Pengerang, Johor and Pulau Ubin in Singapore via a three-kilometre bridge and an undersea tunnel. – BERNAMA

Related link: Malaysia: Johor govt mulling third Malaysia-Singapore link