Introduction
As Southeast Asia embarks on a period of unprecedented economic growth, social progress and cultural development, key infrastructure projects will play an important role in the success of the region. From superhighways and bridges to express rail links and development regions the most dynamic projects will connect people, countries and regions.
Designed to be the world’s longest link at 127.93 km the privately funded Strait of Malacca Crossing (SOMX) will connect peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra across the world’s busiest strait. An ambitious project that will fuel the growth of Southeast Asia and have a lasting global impact, the crossing will provide increased political security and ignite social change across the region
Malaysia
As Malaysia steadily moves towards its goal of achieving developed nation status by the year 2020 it has already come a long way. Capitalising on the hopes and dreams of it’s population, Malaysia has been able to transform its economy from an agriculture and mining base to a competitive high-tech economy, where services and manufacturing now account for 80% of its GDP. Malaysia’s rich natural resources have made it a major exporter of oil, gas, rubber and palm oil; while its position as a leader in Islamic banking has allowed it to become an attractive destination for both trade and investment. Peace and stability are cornerstones of this diverse Southeast Asian nation that is quickly becoming a regional powerhouse.
Indonesia
With over 234 million consumers, Indonesia represents Southeast Asia’s largest potential market. Now fully recovered from the 1998 Asian Financial crisis, Indonesia’s GDP has surpassed $1.1 trillion US dollars with Foreign Direct Investment increasing at 17% in early 2007. Indonesia has recently embarked on a major infrastructure improvement program that will fuel social progress and allow it to capture its tremendous amount of natural resources. As Southeast Asia’s most populous country Indonesia is a rising industrial giant.
The Benefits
POLITICAL:
The creation of a crossing between the Malaysian peninsula and the Indonesian archipelago will dramatically change the political atmosphere between bordering nations, with Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand undoubtedly seeing an increase in cooperation and civility in matters of governance and security. The cost of combating piracy and maintaining safety along the Strait of Malacca has always been taxing on bordering nations. The Strait of Malacca Crossing will encourage cooperation against piracy and will allow for better monitoring of traffic through the strait. Increased investment at crossing points and along the coastline will lead to greater domestic political stability for bordering nations. As a link between ASEAN nations, the Strait of Malacca Crossing will help kindle an ASEAN spirit that will further unify the region and gear it towards development and progress
SOCIAL:
In a region that is tied together by thousands of years of history the Strait of Malacca Crossing will bring about a fusion of cultures. Malaysians and Indonesians will come together to exchange information, technology, arts and culture, bringing social progress to both nations. The link between nations will result in a blossoming of industry across the strait where labour specialization will allow for growth on both sides, while reducing the strains of migration. New communities will flourish as workers flock to rapidly expanding neighboring cities that are experiencing an increase in commerce and industry. As the crossing is completed and greater responsibility is taken on by bordering nations, environmental issues surrounding the strait will be addressed. The Strait of Malacca Crossing will realise the dreams of generations and connect two of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic nations.
ECONOMIC:
The economic importance of the Strait of Malacca as one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes has long been recognized. However, a link between Malaysia and Indonesia across the strait unlocks even greater potential. The Indonesian island of Sumatra rich in natural resources will be connected to the Asian continent; opening up to new markets and gaining direct access to the giant Chinese economy. Peninsular Malaysia with its increasingly service based industry will benefit from an increase in tourism, cross border trade, transport development, and educational investment. As development takes place on both sides of the crossing, dangerous migration across the straits will disappear and both sides will benefit. Singapore, Thailand, China and the region as a whole will benefit from an increase in trade and commerce as the fertile Indonesian archipelago is connected to the Asian continent.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
The Strait of Malacca Crossing is a regional project with global impact. As a privately funded initiative (PFI) the project will fuel the growth of developing nations without placing an unnecessary burden on governments. The crossing will create an international hub of trade and commerce, connecting peoples and economies while accelerating growth throughout the region. Bridging one of the world’s busiest straits, the crossing will provide increased security and stability in an area critical to global commerce.
Geological Evaluation
The crossing will be located in the narrowest channel of the Strait of Malacca from the northeast coast adjacent to Malacca in Malaysia to the southwest coast of Pulau Rupat in Sumatra, Indonesia. The terrain near the coast of Malacca is mostly plain with flat topography, beaches and developed ground water systems. On the Indonesian side Barisan mountains lie in the west, while low terrains and wetlands are located to the north near Dumai.
The project site is located entirely on the Eurasian plate and there are no known faults nearby. The buried base of rocks underneath the proposed site lie deeply underground on the Sumatra side but have good physical and mechanical properties and will provide sufficient support for a structural foundation. Though there is an unfavorable seismic zone about 100 km away from the project site there has been no record of a strong earthquake, intense plate motion, or fracture in the last ten thousand years. With new technology and sufficient care an earthquake resistant structure will stand for generations.
Design
Brigde Concept
The design objectives for the bridge include for the crossing to be perfectly functional, economical in construction and graceful in appearance. Since this is a sea bridge project over the strait, people will be able to enjoy both the magnificent bridge from different angles and the beautiful scenery of the sea, island and coastline. The deepwater navigable span of the all bridge concept is located 12 km off Pulau Rupat in Indonesia where the depth of the water is 50~60m, and giant oil tankers with a capacity of more than 300,000 tons can transit the channel. The downstream and upstream waterways are the busiest navigation areas in the Strait of Malacca, with a width of 4.3 km and a distance of about 1.6 km. To satisfy the requirements for navigation and landscape, a suspension bridge and cable-stayed bridge are the most appropriate candidates for the general navigation of the channel.
Tunnel Concept
Bridges crossing upstream and downstream waterways will be constructed off the coast of Malaysia, and an artificial island will be constructed between the deepwater navigation channel and general shipping lanes. From the artificial island an immersed tube will pass below the area of Pulau Rupat in Indonesia. The tunnel concept will allow for a deepwater channel depth of 55m with no height limitation on vessels passing through the deepwater channel.
Strait of Malacca Partners Sdn. Bhd.,
Plaza 138, Unit 16-06,
16th Floor,
No. 138, Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Phone: 603-21627270
Fax: 603-21627148
Email: somx@teamacc.com
http://thestraitofmalaccacrossing.com
rumour: alternative proposal by GOVERNMENT of INDONESIA.. (they really want that Malaysia-Indonesia bridge)
I just copy this story from this website : http://thestraitofmalaccacrossing.com
can see Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak picture.. it look like he support this Malaysia-Indonesi bridge project??
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my personal opinion about this MALAYSIA-INDONESIA bridge projects..
I think this project will go on (it will change the economy flow in ASEAN).. as we all know this project was first mooted by during era of former Malaysia prime minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir.. (well we also know he is really anti singapore).. maybe this project is one of proposal to weakening Singapore port so the big ships must pass through Indonesia or else use Penang port, Klang port or Malacca port.. and in the east.. another ship waiting at Kemaman port in Terengganu.. just my thought
the bridge will link Malaysia (in Melaka or Johor [alternative proposal]) to Dumai (which located in Riau, Sumatera in Indonesia).. Riau is the birth place of #1 lingua-franca language (Bahasa Melayu) in this South-East Asia region, the agreement in year 1824 between British-Netherlands make the Johor and Riau separated, British conquer Johor up to the north Malaya and also Borneo (now called Malaysia), while Netherlands conquer Riau to the Java district (now called Indonesia), British made a causeway in Singapore to ensure the Singapore port will maximize its profit, weakening the economy in Johor plus prevent it to be the superpower in South-East Asia region.. stop the dominance of Johor-Riau empire, and it works! see now Singapore is #1 most busiest port in the world..!!.. just my thought
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Singapore
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_busiest_container_ports
.. furthermore Dumai is well known as "kota minyak" (city of oil) whether petroleum oil or palm oil, they are very rich.. furthermore Indonesia now very crazy with New Economic Growth of Riau Archipelago (NEGARA).. they have masterplan to build so many bridges to link all Indonesian province from Riau at Sumatera to the Java district.. and want it to be link with Malaysia (whether at Malacca or Johor).. ahh.. all just my thought
some info about Dumai
http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Dumai
info about longest bridge in the world.. if this project is materialize then it will be #1 longest bridge in the world!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longe...es_in_the_world
info about Riau.. the birth place of Bahasa Melayu
http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riau
This post has been edited by hack3line: Aug 23 2009, 04:33 AM
MALAYSIA-INDONESIA BRIDGE MASTERPLAN REVEALED..?, masterplan to weakening Singapore Port?