exclusive Despite being denounced by many public figures for his disparaging remarks on the crooked-bridge controversy, Matthais Chang remains firm that Malaysia caved in after Singapore repeatedly shifted the goalpost during negotiations.
Chang, then political secretary to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, alleged that Singapore in 2001 agreed with the bridge project to replace the 80-year old Causeway, but reneged the agreement a year later.
To prove his point, Chang produced a letter dated Sept 8 2001, where Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew explicitly expressed consent on behalf of the island-state's Cabinet to Mahathir.
The letter was published by the Singapore Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts in the booklet - 'Water Talks: If only it could' (2003), which Chang showed malaysiakini during a recent interview.
In the letter, Lee said, "...I have briefed Prime Minister Goh and Cabinet of our discussions and they have given in-principle approval of our oral agreement."
"...You (Mahathir) asked me at the end of the meeting whether work on the bridge can proceed. I said yes, we are unlikely to withdraw our offer.
Singapore withdrew offer
"As I had said to you, Singapore will be reclaiming our side nearly to the boundary, and will build our side of the bridge to meet up with the Malaysian side at the boundary" Lee added.
"Official of our Ministry of National Development said that the technical details regarding contour of the reclamation and the design of the bridge, and how the two sides of the bridge would join up have to be sorted out.
"It is necessary to settle these details before work on the bridge begins as was done when the two sides built the Second Link or the two segments will not meet smoothly at our international boundary.
"These technical discussions may take some time, so I suggest that officials in charge of the bridge and reclamation project on both sides should begin discussions early on these issues. Our officials are ready to meet up with their Malaysian counterparts," Lee concluded.
Previously, Chang claimed that former Singapore premier Goh Chok Tong had also agreed that Malaysia could build the bridge as expressed in two letters published in the same booklet.
When asked why Malaysia delayed construction of the bridge, Chang replied that it was because Singapore had changed its mind, to which Malaysia still had sovereign right to proceed.
"If Singapore has earlier agreed to the bridge be built as disclosed in my previous press conference, and assuming Singapore changed their mind where there were some letters and minutes of meeting post 2003 that Singapore has changed its mind and do not agree the bridge to be built, what should be Malaysia's response? Very simple, we stop the negotiation, isn't it?"
Chang said Malaysia should instead confront Singapore for going against their earlier agreement.
Airspace and sand
Turning his attention to a related matter, Chang said that the government has erred by saying that Malaysia cannot come to terms with Singapore's demand for airspace and sand in return for agreeing with the project.
He believes that such matters - including water, customs, and KTM land issues - should instead be negotiated independently and even simultaneously, and not bundled with any other discussions.
"What's wrong with that? Why must we abandon this (bridge) project? By bringing it for arbitration might cause a delay, but why should we abandon our right?"
Given the situation, Chang said the Malaysian government should refer to the arbitration or International Court of Justice (ICJ) to resolve the bridge matter.
"...because referring to the arbitration or ICJ, it doesn't mean that Malaysia and Singapore are confrontational and being enemies...Arbitration is a better alternative for dispute resolution."
Syed Hamid flayed, again
Chang wants Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar to publicly declare when the latter was informed of the 'legal complications' in building the bridge unilaterally and who had advised him.
"If after Mahathir retires, he (Syed Hamid) got the new legal advisor to give legal advice that the bridge cannot be built because of legal impediment, then why did he continue (with negotiations until the project was scrapped)?"
Chang reiterated he didn't blame Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the matter, as Abdullah is advised by Syed Hamid, and therefore Syed Hamid must resign.
"If he (Syed Hamid) thinks he is not responsible for the fiasco, he must expose who is behind him! Who fed him the wrong information? If he thinks it's unfair in calling for his resignation, then he must let the people know who gave him wrong information or advice. Who asked him or directed him to behave the way he behaved as a chief negotiator, foreign minister and advisor?"Chang asked.
He added, "In Japan, when a plane crashed, the transport minister resigned. It doesn't mean that when the cabinet made an unanimous decision, it is a right decision. If the decision arises because of lack of information or that the cabinet was misled, whether it is unanimous or not does not make it right."
