Mahathir, who proposed the bridge before he retired in 2003, has repeatedly accused his successor government of caving in too easily to Singapore, which had been reluctant to build the bridge to replace a causeway over the narrow strait separating the two neighbors.

"The former prime minister of Malaysia has the right to disagree," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters. "But the government has taken this action in the interests of the Malaysian people and for the benefit of the country."

Syed Hamid indicated that Mahathir should accept the decision announced by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on April 12. Abdullah had said Malaysians were unhappy with Singapore's preconditions for the bridge - that Malaysia supply it with sand for reclamation projects and give Singapore military jets access to Malaysian air space.

"We have to accept the reality that when there is a change in leadership, the current administration may make decisions and take actions that are different from those taken by the previous administration," Syed Hamid said.

Mahathir now has virtually no influence in the government, but his views remain of wide interest to many Malaysians. Mahathir has in recent months also criticized the government for its auto policy, which he claims benefits foreign car companies.

Syed Hamid expressed hope that any public doubts over the bridge decision wouldn't escalate into open bickering, stressing that the issue "shouldn't create a frosty situation, as if there is a political crisis."

The bridge was among wide-ranging issues Malaysia and Singapore wrangled over for years. Recent negotiations focused on the bridge, though other outstanding issues include the price of water Malaysia sells to the city-state and questions over Malaysian-owned land in Singapore.

Malaysian had previously said the bridge would ease congestion on the existing causeway, which more than 100,000 people cross every day

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