"All the working papers and proposals have been forwarded to the Singapore government and I am confident they will give a positive answer soon," Abdul Ghani Othman, chief minister of Johor state, was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying.

Abdul Ghani, speaking September 3 in the state bordering Singapore, was quoted by the Star as saying the project was in the interest of relations between the neighbours.

The Star said the 1.5 km (0.9 mile) bridge would have ten lanes for pedestrians and vehicles plus a rail link and a new customs and immigration checkpoint.

Replacement of the decades-old causeway would make the strait between the two countries navigable again for small craft.

A Malaysian consortium has secured a 33-year concession from the Malaysian government to build, operate and transfer the project, the New Straits Times said.