Melaka and Riau to be connected via a bridge? What are the reasons?

Melaka and Riau to be connected via a bridge? What are the reasons?

Economic activity always the focus for infrastructure projects

For example, the plans for MRT3 Circle Line was because it will increase the usage of the public transport. This was delayed. Right now, it’s at the very starting stages.

Plans for High Speed Rail (HSR) is also because it will increase the flow of people between KL and Singapore and increase the potential economic spillover for both sides. This was cancelled and is now said to be potentially coming back.

Plans for the Rail Transit System (RTS) is also because it will increase the passenger flow between JB and SG and this will definitely become an economic growth generation. If you still think this will benefit JB alone, then do answer this question of why the best and most effective government in ASEAN agrees to it and happily helping it come to fruition yeah. This was delayed… and will now be ready only on 31st December 2026.

So, all these real economic generators are delayed because the government wants to restrategize how we spend rakyat’s money. However, there’s now one of those proposals which I have no idea how long it will take, where would the traffic be coming from and even why do we need it in the first place. Read on about the Melaka – Riau bridge project. Yes, a bridge across the Straits of Melaka.

In 2019, this was the news:

In 2021, this was the news:

In 2022, this was the news:

In 2023, this was the news:

Now in 2025, this is the latest news:

Article in straitstimes.com “A decades-old plan to build a bridge linking Melaka in Malaysia and Riau in Indonesia has been revived as the Melaka’s state government moves to kick-start an economic feasibility study on the project in 2026.

Melaka’s Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh said on Dec 11 that the state had spent around RM500,000 (S$158,000) for a consulting firm to assess the project’s effectiveness and “ability to change the economic landscape”, according to Malaysian state news agency Bernama.” Article in straitstimes.com

Show me the money, as my favourite movie Jerry Maguire says

What’s the profit which we will be able to make from this? Please do not say it’s just from the bridge toll yeah. It really must be the economic activities which we will see. Businesses thriving… New investments pouring into both sides of the bridge and beyond. As long as all these are properly researched and presented, I think we can start talking about this more seriously.

Funding would not be coming from the state governments because this is likely to be well beyond what Melaka or Riau governments are able to pay for from their budgets. Our second Penang Bridge is 24km and costs RM4.8 billion and that was many years back. Today…?

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