林明华：那座梦桥

出处　　∶星洲日报
原文题目∶云淡风轻：那座梦桥
英译题目∶That dream bridge of mine
作者　　∶林明华
发表日期∶15-04-09
翻译　　∶DOMINIC LOH

马哈迪时代，它横空而出，让人魂牵梦掛。

阿都拉时代，它戛然而止，让人悵然若失。

纳吉的时代，它若隱若现，让人心神荡漾。

它是我家乡的桥，我梦中的桥。

这条桥，弯弯曲曲，横跨海峡，傲视柔新。

画家笔下，它美得像梦幻中的童话世界。

它有一个诗一般的名字──美景大桥。

美景大桥终究没有建起来。它终究是我梦中的桥。

停建美景大桥，我们赔了12亿7700万令吉。但前首相阿都拉说，当时政府已没有钱，財政赤字高达5.3%，內阁会议曾多次针对这项弯桥计划进行討论，大家都不明白为何马哈迪非要建这座弯桥不可。

马哈迪心中到底有甚么盘算，老实说，我也不懂。

我只知道，阿都拉取消了弯桥计划，他非常不高兴。

他老人家为甚么这样生气，老实说，我也不懂。

我只知道，马哈迪由此公开和阿都拉决裂，至今仍怨气难消。他说，「我初时发誓绝不干预新任政府的事务，我尝试了一阵子。可是当弯桥事件发生后，我们將主权给了邻国，那很丟脸。」

他还说，「如果是美国，我可以理解，但是连新加坡那么小的国家我们都怕，我想这不是一个可以令人尊重的领袖。」

原来，这座桥牵扯的何止是千丝万缕的官商利益，它还攸关我们的主权和自尊呢！

潮起潮落，浪淘尽，多少政治人物？

阿都拉走了，纳吉上台了，马哈迪回来了，他念兹在兹的美景大桥，也在柔州巫青团的大力背书之下，似乎有望复建了。

和当年『捍卫主权绝不丟脸』的马哈迪一样，柔州巫青团宣传主任卡立莫哈末认为，如果新加坡不同意，我们大可把弯桥建在属於大马领土的部份。

卡立莫哈末声称，建弯桥將为柔佛经济带来更正面的影响。但他没有告诉我，如果那是一座只能建到海中央的『半座桥』，那会促进柔州的经济繁荣，还是会让经济倒退50年？

看浪花拍岸，望蓝天云涌，我心底不禁纳闷：弯桥啊弯桥，我梦中的桥，妳是为经济而建，还是为政治而生？

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During the Mahathir era, it spanned across the sky, making many think of it day in and day out.

During the Abdullah era, it was killed, making many feel at loss.

During the Najib era, it is resuscitated, making many gleam with excitement.

That, is the bridge in my hometown. The bridge of my dream.

This bridge, a crooked one, will span across the narrow strait, proudly overlooking Johor and Singapore on both sides.

In the artist's rendering, it is as beautiful as the dreamy fairytale world.

It even has an idyllic name, "the Scenic Bridge."

In the end the bridge is never built. And it remains very much the bridge of my dream.

By halthing the construction of the bridge, we have compensated RM1.277 billion!

Former prime minister Tun Abdullah said the government was short of cash then, and the budget deficit ran as high as 5.3%.

He said the Cabinet had been discussing about this bridge over and again, and no one could understand why Mahathir had insisted to go ahead with the plan.

Frankly, I also didn't know what was in Mahathir's mind.

I only knew he was very unhappy that Abdullah had shelved the crooked bridge plan.

Again, I had no idea at all why he was so furious about it.

I only knew Mahathir has not been in good terms with Abdullah since then.

Mahathir later said, "I used to swear that I would not poke my finger into the new administration. I did try for some time, but after that crooked bridge incident, we have surrendered our sovereignty to our neighbour. And that is utterly disgraceful!"

He even said, "I could understand why if it were America. But now we are even scared of a tiny country like Singapore.

"I don't think he makes a respectable leader."

Now I know that this bridge entails more than just the intricate politico-business interests, but also our sovereignty and self-esteem!

Abdullah has left, and here comes Najib. And Mahathir.

Mahathir's brainchild is beginning to see some prospects of revival, thanks also to the strong endorsement from Johor UMNO Youth.

In an identical tone to that of Mahathir, Johor UMNO Youth information chief Khalid Mohamad said if Singapore did not agree to the plan, we could always build a crooked bridge entirely on Malaysian territory.

Khalid Mohamad claimed that the crooked bridge would bring more positive impact on Johor's economy.

But he failed to tell me whether this "half bridge," which can only be built up to the midline of the Johor Strait, would promote the state's economy, or send the economy back in time by half a century.