NO DECISION YET ON CROOKED BRIDGE, SAYS DPM

SINGAPORE, April 18 (Bernama) -- The government has not made any decision
whether to resume the construction of the crooked bridge over the Straits
of Johor, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

After delivering the closing keynote address at the Second Asean and Asia
Forum here Friday, Muhyiddin was asked about the growing calls, especially from
Johor's political and business community, for the government to review its 2006
decision to cancel the crooked bridge project.

The say the construction of the RM600 million crooked bridge to replace the
Johor Causeway which was built in 1924, could spur economic growth and provide
various economic opportunities to the local population.

The forum titled "Risks and Opportunities" was organised by the Singapore
Institute of International Affairs (SIIA).

Asked on his priority since taking over as deputy prime minister, Muhyiddin
said the most important thing on his mind was managing the economy and steering
it out of recession.

He said the nation's economic well-being needed to be managed hands-on,
especially with the RM60 billion economic stimulus package as announced by Prime
Minister Najib Razak recently. (US$1=RM3.60)

On United Malays National Organisation (Umno)'s efforts to regain the
confidence of the Malays and Malaysian public, he said the new party
administration was working hard towards this end.

"We are working very hard on the party's transformation, but with the
new administration in place, there will be changes which can have a positive
impact."

Muhyiddin said Umno and Barisan Nasional (National Front) needed at least
two years to work at winning back the confidence and trust of the Malaysian
voters.
-- BERNAMA