ISKANDAR PUTERI — A third bridge between Singapore and Malaysia is needed because the existing links between the two countries cannot cope with the congestion, Malaysian Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He told the Johor state assembly on Monday (Nov 25) that he had informed the country’s federal government about this need, Malaysian news agency Bernama reported.

Mr Muhyiddin also said that the new link could possibly be a tunnel across the Straits of Johor, instead of a bridge.

The minister, who is both the chairman of a special committee on congestion at the Johor Causeway and the president of Johor Pakatan Harapan, said that preliminary studies have indicated that there is a need for a third link.

The two countries are connected by the Causeway and the Tuas Second Link, but “now these two can no longer cope”, Mr Muhyiddin said.

Johor's public works, transport and infrastructure committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri called Mr Muhyiddin's proposal an appropriate step.

Mr Mohd Solihan said that the customs complex at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar — which leads to the Woodlands Checkpoint in Singapore — will reach full capacity in 2020 and expanding the facility would not sufficiently relieve congestion at the Causeway.

"If the state government supports (this), I will ensure this initiative (the construction of a third bridge) will be started," Mr Muhyiddin said.

Other Malaysian leaders have also called for a third link to be built in recent months.

In March, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said "at least three to four more bridges" are needed to connect the two countries. AGENCIES