I refer to the announcement by Dato’ Sri Ab Rauf Yusoh, Melaka EXCO for Investment, Industry, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, on the purported 120km route linking Melaka to Dumai, Indonesia.
This is not the first time Rauf has made an announcement of such a plan. Earlier in March 2022, he has announced that the Melaka state government is planning to build a 47km undersea railway tunnel linking Melaka and Dumai which would take 4 to 5 years to complete. Now in September 2022, he has announced that the proposed route will be either be a 120km bridge or undersea tunnel, which would take 20 years to develop.
Rauf and the state government should stop making ad-hoc, inconsistent, and incomplete announcements on the project. Such vague announcements are highly irresponsible. It creates doubt and confusion among the public and investors, and tarnishes the state government’s credibility.
If the state government is indeed serious in pursuing such a project, it is incumbent upon them to provide the full details and engage with stakeholders transparently, instead of making ad-hoc announcements.
In the first place, the state government must disclose if a feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis has been done for the project. Rauf should stop making generalised claims that the proposed bridge will be economically beneficial for the country without proper facts and analysis.
An article in Jakarta Post on 19 March 2021 by Prof. Ade Maman Suherman and Dr Hazmi Rusli stated that a similar project has underwent an initial feasibility test more than a decade ago. It was estimated that such a project would cost more than RM52 billion, while causing major environment damage and navigational hazards and congestion for ships in the Melaka straights.
The federal government should also state its position and views on this project as its construction of a major public infrastructure involving cross border cooperation with another sovereign country.
Rauf has also mentioned that this project will be conducted by a private company and the government would not have to bear any cost. In the interest of transparency, Rauf should disclose the name and details of the company involved in this project, including its credentials and financial capabilities to undertake such a massive project. No private company would undertake such a project out of charity. What are the terms of the concessionaire and in what ways would the people or government be made to pay for the project?
The public and investors has reacted cynically towards the announcement of this project. Let’s not forget that Melaka has had its fair share of white elephant and abandoned projects, such as the monorail, Pulau Melaka reclaimed island, and unsustainable shopping malls.
Instead of yet another mega bridge costing billions, the state government should prioritise feasible and sustainable projects that would truly benefit the people and local economy.