Who Owns The Johor Causeway?
According to a local Johor historian Malaysia may not have the absolute legal right to dismantle the 82-year-old Johor Causeway. Read on...
History Books Say Malaysia Has No Right To Dismantle Johor Causeway:
Credible evidence to support this claim are found in several historical documents including "Hikayat Johor ke-2" (1951), published by Johor Government Printing Office and "Sejarah Johor" (1971), published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Zaaba Abdul Samad, a local historian who specialises in Johor history, said evidence gathered from the historical documents suggested that Malaysia might not be the sole owner of the causeway. "The question of ownership (of Johor Causeway) is still vague because there are historical documents which state that Singapore also paid the cost of constructing the road and sidewalk along the causeway. "This is clearly stated in a book entitled Hikayat Johor ke-2. Page 244 of the book details the cost and construction of the railway line, road and sidewalk along the causeway," he said.
The book was authored by Mej Mohd Said Sulaiman, who was the private secretary of the then Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim. According to the book, construction of the Johor Causeway started on April 24, 1920. Originally, the causeway was only meant to cater for the railway line but later a road and sidewalk were added in. The book states that the Johor government financed the railway line which cost RM12.285 million, but wanted Singapore to share the cost of the road and sidewalk which amounted to RM4.735 million.
The Sultan of Johor and Johor general advisor negotiated the matter with the Singapore government in London. Johor finally agreed to pay RM3.178 million and the balance to be paid by Singapore before the causeway was declared open on July 24, 1924.
Another book entitled "Sejarah Johor" also throws into question the ownership issue of the Johor Causeway. Its author Buyong Adil wrote that "the 3,456 foot-long causeway" took about four years to complete and both Johor and Singapore had legal rights to it. Zaaba said although the books could not be regarded as a form of "valid agreement" between Johor and Singapore, they could still be used as evidence in the court of law if there were any dispute on the causeway's ownership.-- BERNAMA
History Books Say Malaysia Has No Right To Dismantle Johor Causeway:
Credible evidence to support this claim are found in several historical documents including "Hikayat Johor ke-2" (1951), published by Johor Government Printing Office and "Sejarah Johor" (1971), published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Zaaba Abdul Samad, a local historian who specialises in Johor history, said evidence gathered from the historical documents suggested that Malaysia might not be the sole owner of the causeway. "The question of ownership (of Johor Causeway) is still vague because there are historical documents which state that Singapore also paid the cost of constructing the road and sidewalk along the causeway. "This is clearly stated in a book entitled Hikayat Johor ke-2. Page 244 of the book details the cost and construction of the railway line, road and sidewalk along the causeway," he said.
The book was authored by Mej Mohd Said Sulaiman, who was the private secretary of the then Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim. According to the book, construction of the Johor Causeway started on April 24, 1920. Originally, the causeway was only meant to cater for the railway line but later a road and sidewalk were added in. The book states that the Johor government financed the railway line which cost RM12.285 million, but wanted Singapore to share the cost of the road and sidewalk which amounted to RM4.735 million.
The Sultan of Johor and Johor general advisor negotiated the matter with the Singapore government in London. Johor finally agreed to pay RM3.178 million and the balance to be paid by Singapore before the causeway was declared open on July 24, 1924.
Another book entitled "Sejarah Johor" also throws into question the ownership issue of the Johor Causeway. Its author Buyong Adil wrote that "the 3,456 foot-long causeway" took about four years to complete and both Johor and Singapore had legal rights to it. Zaaba said although the books could not be regarded as a form of "valid agreement" between Johor and Singapore, they could still be used as evidence in the court of law if there were any dispute on the causeway's ownership.-- BERNAMA
posted by The Malaysian. at 6/14/2006 01:32:00 PM
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