Disputes between Malaysia and Singapore took a bizarre twist today when Malaysia decided to unilaterally build half a bridge between the two countries.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the bridge would be "a little unusual" as it would have to link up with the existing low-level causeway in the middle of the Tebrau Strait separating the testy neighbours.

Malaysia had pressed for a complete new bridge as part of a package of agreements to resolve a number of disputes between the two countries, but Singapore said it was not interested as the 80-year-old causeway was adequate.

"So we have to design a bridge which appears a little unusual or else it cannot gain the right height or inclination," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

Our way

"If it's too steep, lorries will not be able to climb, so we have to construct a crooked bridge.

"That's our fate. We can't get the cooperation from people, so we have to accept our own way to resolve the problem."

Mahathir was speaking after witnessing the awarding of the contract for the RM1.1 billion bridge to Malaysian firm Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd. The project is scheduled for completion by December 2005.

The 1.45 kilometre half-bridge will apparently carry an eight-lane highway some 25 metres above the strait before curving and descending gently to link up with the low-level causeway on the Singaporean side.

Mahathir said the bridge would probably enable vessels, including those carrying cargo from the Pasir Gudang port to the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), to pass through.

Malaysia's PTP aims to replace Singapore port as a major shipping hub.

Self financed

The entire project to upgrade the link through Bukit Chagar in Johor will include a customs, immigration and quarantine complex, the road bridge and a 700-metre rail bridge incorporating a steel swing-bridge allowing vessels to go through, Bernama reported.

Mahathir said Malaysia would not seek Singapore's involvement because it could cause delays. The government had sufficient funds to finance the bridge but may issue local bonds if necessary, he added.

Thousands of Malaysians travel daily to work in the island-state and Singaporeans are the biggest group of visitors to Malaysia.

In recognition of this, and in an attempt at a different sort of bridge-building, Singapore launched a regional tourism office in Kuala Lumpur today to woo international travellers to both countries.

The move was an "important milestone" in bilateral ties, said Singapore's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry Raymond Lim.

The two countries would conduct joint marketing to promote Malaysia and Singapore as "twin destinations" for international travellers, he said at a launching ceremony.

"There will be differences from time to time but what is important is the overall relationship, to always keep a larger perspective in mind," he said.

Permanent neighbours

The bridge issue and an increasingly acrimonious dispute over the price of raw water which Malaysia supplies to the resource-poor island-state are among a number of irritants between the two countries, which separated when Singapore became independent in 1965.

Malaysian Tourism Minister Kadir Sheikh Fadzir said the two states would benefit if they worked closely together.

"These differences are going to be there until doomsday. Problems will crop up from time to time but we must not let that affect us," he said.

"I am sure that this water thing, in a matter of time, will be resolved but life must go on. We are permanent neighbours." - AFP