Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today defended the half-bridge project - conceived during his administration - and dismissed Singapore's claim that it was an 'act of war'.

Mahathir said the government under his administration had studied the matter carefully and there were provisions for the relocation of water pipes to Singapore upon issuance of a six-month notice.

"We know where we stand (on the pipelines)," he was quoted as saying by Bernama after visiting the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in Johor Bharu.

He added that under the agreement with Singapore, the island state must bear the cost of any pipeline relocation.

He explained that previously, Malaysia had relocated the Singapore pipelines during the construction of new roads and railway station for the RM2.5 billion Integrated Southern Gateway project.

"So, if they (Singapore) say (the relocation of the pipelines) constitutes an 'act of war', it is totally unreasonable," he said.

'I disagree with the govt'

Mahathir also questioned several Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's rationale to abruptly cancel the bridge project on Wednesday, three weeks after works began.

Abdullah cited negative public sentiments towards the project coupled with legal and logistics complications as reasons for the project's cancellation.

The former premier said if the present administration was uncertain about provisions of the agreement, it should refer to the agreement in either Malaysian or international courts.

He also believed that Malaysians, particularly Johor residents, only rejected conditions set by Singapore and not the construction of the bridge.

"Let me say it frankly that I do not agree with the government's view that the people do not want the crooked bridge," he said.

He added that a referendum should be held to gauge sentiments of the Johor people on the project.

Malaysia lost

To a question, Mahathir said, "Singapore will surely think it did not win, but Malaysia lost."

In an immediate response to the cancellation on Thursday, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo told reporters that the question of who won and who lost did not arise.

Asked on his feelings after visiting the project site, Mahathir said that recent developments had greatly saddened him.

"I am hiding my sadness because if I were to cry like I did when I announced my resignation (as prime minister at the Umno general assembly in 2002), I will embarrass you (reporters). So, I laugh.

"This is because I cannot believe that before I die - and I do not know how long I have left as I am already 80 years old - the sovereignty of our country can be violated so easily.

"We retreated as if we surrendered our land to others," he said, inferring that Abdullah had caved in to Singapore.

On a sombre note, Mahathir said the bridge debacle had caused Malaysia to lose a bit of its independence because it failed to do something in an area within its own territory.