Dr Mahathir Mohamad today insisted that he was telling the truth on the Malaysian government's offer of sand and airspace to Singapore in the bridge negotiation, adding that he was prepared to swear on the Quran on his claim.

"We can go to the mosque and swear on the Quran together, swear together in the mosque," he challenged government leaders who have rebutted his claim to do so at a press conference held at the sidelines of the Umno Youth Petaling Jaya Utara division annual general meeting this morning.

He said the proof that the Malaysian government had made the offer was in 'black and white'.

"There are people who have seen it, the meeting between Malaysia and Singapore were attended by many people and they said there is this letter, show that letter, not other letters," he stressed, adding that the government should not hide behind the Official Secrets Act.

Mahathir was not happy with the government's decision in scrapping the half-bridge project on the grounds that there were legal complication and Malaysians against the project due to the opening of Johor's airspace and sale of sand to Singapore.

The ex-premier later told malaysiakini that the offer of sand and airspace were instead made by Malaysia at a meeting in 2004 - the year after he stepped down as PM - between the two nations to get Singapore's agreement to build a straight bridge.

Mahathir also read out excerpts from a few correspondences between him and ex-Singaporean premier Goh Chok Tong at the press conference today to back his claim that the condition of airspace and sand were never included until Malaysia made the offer.

"Goh said here, 'If you wish to proceed immediately to replace just your side of the bridge, I shall accept this though I think this is not ideal'. He said 'accept', there was no conditions," the ex-premier said.

When a journalist asked in jest whether he was carrying those letters around, Mahathir replied, "Yes, just in case you don't believe. There has been confusion."

'AP agents'

Earlier, while addressing a crowd of 500 people comprising members of the Youth wing division's delegates and his supporters in a one-hour speech, Mahathir reiterated that the government should declassify all letters on the bridge project, not declassifying those that had been made public by Singapore earlier.

"If I am not right (on the claim that Malaysia made the offer), show me where I'm wrong. I'm ready to face action," he said to applause from the audience.

He pointed out that the sultan of Johor was very interested with the bridge project and had offered land for it.

At one point, Mahathir indicated that he had to cut short his speech due to time constraint but the crowd prompted him to continue speaking. He then elaborated on the rampant issuance of approved permits (APs) to import foreign luxury cars.

He questioned those who have received APs and selling them at RM40,000 each. For the first time, he named 'AP kings' Mohd Haniff Abdul Aziz and Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim as the former Miti officials who have benefitted from the AP scheme.

"They left the ministry and get the APs. If anyone wants APs, they can go and see Haniff, but why the need for the government to have an (AP) agent outside?" he asked, but immediately added that "all these are just my bad thoughts and naughty presumptions."

Mahathir repeated that the rampant issuance of APs has affected national car maker Proton's performance.