Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts

36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.

Tel: 3757794/5

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SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER GOH CHOK TONG AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF THE MALAYSIA-SINGAPORE SECOND CROSSING ON SATURDAY, 18 APRIL 1998 AT 9.30 AM AT TUAS CHECKPOINT

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir

Datin Seri Dr Siti Hasmah

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

The joint opening of this jointly-built bridge is an important milestone in Singapore-Malaysia relations.

For nearly 75 years, the Causeway was the only physical link between Singapore and Malaysia. At its official opening on 28 June 1924, Sir Lawrence Guillemard, then Governor of the Straits Settlements, described the Causeway as a "great engineering feat". But the Causeway became more than just that. It developed into the foremost conduit for the movement of goods and people between Singapore and Malaysia. It became a symbol of the close historical ties between our peoples.

The Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing is not just another great engineering feat. It is the symbol of a new phase in Malaysia-Singapore relationship. Two months ago, I visited Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir. We agreed that Singapore and Malaysia would work towards realizing the full potential of bilateral relations, based on the principle of "prosper thy neighbour". We also explored areas where both nations could intensify cooperation to provide a firm foundation for bilateral relations in the new millennium.

Malaysia was Singapore’s second largest trading partner last year. Singapore has consistently been one of Malaysia’s top foreign investors. The Second Crossing will open up new areas for collaboration between the private sectors of both countries. We should not worry if initial usage has not been up to expectations. This is a bridge to the future; it is for future needs. Now that Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Pahang have joined the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore Growth Triangle, the Second Crossing is well placed to play a significant part in facilitating an expansion of bilateral trade and investment.

A commitment to cooperate is all the more important during these difficult times. Financial turbulence has buffeted our region. Currencies have been depreciated, economies have been weakened, asset values have been sharply reduced, and confidence in the economies has been eroded. This shared pain shows how inter-linked our destiny is. But the regional crisis has also made us work even closer together. As a result, we will emerge stronger from our tribulations.

The regional economic crisis has made our strides towards the new millennium a bit more tentative. But progress has not stalled. As close neighbours with historical ties, Singapore and Malaysia have much in common, and much to gain from working together. Troubled economic times have made this even clearer.

Indeed, the opening of the Second Crossing during this period of regional economic turbulence shows that cooperation is the way to go. The construction of the Second Crossing itself is testimony to the achievements that we can attain by putting our hearts and minds together. The smooth completion of the Second Crossing, in less than four years, would not have been possible without the close coordination and cooperation between officials from both countries. Singapore spent more than $800 million on the second link, comprising $55 million on land reclamation for the bridge and CIQ, $51 million on Singapore’s portion of the bridge, $485 million on the CIQ and $220 million on the upgrading of Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim into an expressway. We should build upon our present cooperation to pave the way for future generations of Singaporeans and Malaysians to pursue the goal of an even closer and more cooperative relationship.

Thank you.