Recognised abroad: The Bagan Datuk Bridge opened on June 1, 2023, connecting Perak Tengah and Bagan Datuk. — Photo from Alexander Nanta Linggi’s Facebook page
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s engineering feat – the Bagan Datuk Bridge – won second place in the community road category of the Mino Best Project Award at the 17th Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia (REAAA) Conference.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (pic, below) said the road project, under his ministry’s supervision, connects two major districts in Perak with a mere 10km route that takes only seven minutes to travel, a vast improvement compared to the previous 67km journey that would take an hour.
“The facility makes it easy for residents to go about their daily activities, speeds up delivery of agricultural produce and opens up a lot of economic and tourism opportunities in Bagan Datuk,” he said in a statement.
The REAAA conference and award ceremony was held in Goyang, South Korea.
Nanta said with its sophisticated eco-friendly design, the bridge uses a system with box culverts to ensure nearby residents are still connected.
The project is also equipped with navigation lights for the safety of passing ships and boats and was built with peat soil and coastal conditions taken into consideration to ensure long-term sustainability.
The bridge also acts as a catalyst for community connectivity, expands access and mobility between two major districts, and is an engineering model that balances technical competence, social welfare and environmental sustainability.
Besides the bridge award, a Malaysian professional engineer, Datuk Dr Dennis Ganendra received the Hwang Award.
The award is a special recognition to individuals who have contributed greatly to REAAA and road engineering development in the region.
Nanta described Dennis’ recognition as proof that Malaysian engineering capabilities are now on par with developed countries and is acknowledged internationally.
“This isn’t just about a win by a single project, but a victory for all Malaysia’s engineers. It reflects our capabilities and spirit to build infrastructure that not only connects districts, but unites and develops communities,” he said.
“With two main awards, Malaysia again proves local engineering prowess can produce high-quality projects that are resilient and people-oriented,” he said.
The Bagan Datuk Bridge, which opened on June 1, 2023, is the longest bridge in Malaysia.
Costing RM460mil, the bridge connects Perak Tengah and Bagan Datuk.
