CLOSURE OF CAUSEWAY TO HEAVY TRAFFIC

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CLOSURE OF CAUSEWAY TO HEAVY TRAFFIC:

* 8. *Mr Wee Siew Kim asked the Minister for Transport (a) if there are any updates from the Malaysian government on their announcement in August 2006 that the Causeway would be closed to heavy vehicles from Malaysia so as to facilitate the construction of a new road to connect the Johor end of the Causeway to the new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex in Bukit Chagar; and (b) what is the impact of the diversion on Singapore.

The Minister for Transport (Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat): Mr Speaker, Sir, naturally, we are concerned about this development, since any diversion of traffic from the Causeway to the Second Link will have material implications for Singapore. In particular, we have concerns over the possible impact of the proposal on traffic and checkpoint operations at the Second Link and the Causeway as well as the economic costs. However, we would need more details on the proposed diversion in order to assess the full impact on Singapore.

We have already requested from the Malaysians further details on the proposed diversion. During the Malaysia-Singapore MOT Games held in Singapore in August this year, officials from both sides discussed this issue. The following month, I also raised Singapore’s operational concerns to my counterpart, the Malaysian Minister for Transport Datuk Chan Kong Choy during my official visit to Kuala Lumpur on 4th September 2006. He gave me the assurance that such a diversion would be temporary.

On both occasions, we were informed by our Malaysian counterparts that the

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Malaysian Works Ministry was still working out the details of the temporary diversion. They also assured us that Singapore would be informed once these details had been sorted out. Since these meetings, we have followed up on our request for more details of the proposal by writing formally to the Malaysian Ministry of Transport. We also reiterated the point on the need for prior consultations before any proposed diversion is effected. Such prior consultations are essential. Amongst other things, they will enable the two countries to take the necessary actions and preparations required to minimise the disruption any such diversion will cause.

Most recently, I again raised this issue with the Malaysian Minister for Transport Datuk Chan Kong Choy just last week on 9th November 2006 when he was in Singapore for the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation Conference. He told me he would take up this issue with Malaysian Works Minister Samy Vellu.

Mr Wee Siew Kim (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister how much lead time do we have in order for us to prepare our own businessmen and in order that this diversion would not cause us any adverse or unnecessary lengthy economic impacts.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: It really depends on the details of the actual diversion itself. When I discussed with Datuk Chan Kong Choy last week, he understands that we need sufficient notice. So it is both sides, not just us. On his side also there will be an impact. So he is fully aware of this. He says that he will give us sufficient notice so that we can make the necessary preparations.