originally, the government planned to build a bridge across sungai batu pahat alone. but after receiving pressure from muar residents, the government added a proposal to build a bridge to muar and batu pahat. proposal to build two bridges that have been included in the second malaya plan (1961–1966) by the malayan public works department (jkr) and it was announced by the minister of public works, tun vt sambanthan.