The surprise decision - announced to media before being conveyed officially to Singapore - is certain to hurt bilateral relations, already strained after years of wrangling over these three issues and a host of other irritants.

"It's a political decision," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters. "We decided. Singapore didn't even know. We are not pressured by anybody. We think of what our people want," he said.

The planned bridge to connect Malaysia's southern state of Johor with Singapore was to have replaced an existing 1.06-kilometer (0.66-mile) causeway currently used by more than 100,000 people every day. It was dubbed the "scenic bridge" for the curving design envisaged by Malaysian planners.

Singapore has opposed the bridge from the start, but said recently it would negotiate its construction if Malaysia agreed to supply the island nation with sand and give it access to Malaysian air space. Singapore needs the sand for land reclamation projects and its military planes are constrained by the country's small size.

Malaysian officials said such bargaining was unacceptable.

"The Malaysian government has decided not to continue with the construction of the bridge to replace the Johor causeway," Abdullah said in a brief statement earlier. The government "has also decided to halt all negotiations relating to the bridge," it said.

The decision to scrap the bridge was "made after taking into account the voice and sentiments of the Malaysian public, especially relating to the supply of sand and use of air space," it said.

Asked at the news conference to confirm that this means Malaysia will not negotiate on either matter, Abdullah nodded and said: "No more."

He added that the causeway will remain the only road link between the two countries.

"No one loses anything," he said, adding that relations with Singapore remain unchanged. Ties do not hinge on a single issue such as the bridge, he said.

Singapore's reaction was one of shock.

"We are surprised at this sudden decision when negotiations for a full bridge were still ongoing," an unidentified Singapore Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a one-line statement.

The two countries also disagree over the price of water that Malaysia provides to Singapore. Malaysia has previously promised it will not cut off water supplies.

Abdullah appeared to confirm that. He said Malaysia will continue to discuss other outstanding issues, but refused to elaborate.

Malaysia had maintained that the bridge would ease congestion and provide environmental benefits. Singapore initially said its economic viability had not been ascertained.

Ignoring Singapore's objections, Malaysia began work on the bridge earlier this year, saying it would extend the structure halfway across the waterway and let Singapore build its half whenever it wants.

Works Minister Samy Vellu said Wednesday he would order construction work to be stopped immediately.

Malaysia was apparently irked by remarks earlier this month by Singapore's Second Foreign Minister Raymond Lim, who told Parliament that Malaysia's unilateral attempt to build the half-bridge was unacceptable.

Most people using the causeway are Malaysians who commute to Singapore for work, and Singaporean residents who come to Malaysia for cheap shopping.

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