Najib opens Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge

GEORGE TOWN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak opened the Second Penang Bridge in front of more than 10,000 people who came to witness the historic event.

Clad in black and purple Baju Batik, Najib announced the new name of bridge— the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge after the Yang di-Pertuan Agung — against the backdrop of a spectacular fireworks display. The new bridge is located some 8km from the first Penang Bridge.

           The historic occasion was launched by Najib by the touch of a launch pad, after which a light display came on, followed by a three-dimensional video presentation, animation montage and a ten-minute fireworks display.

           In his speech, Najib described the new crossing as an iconic project which would continue to be a source of pride for all Malaysians, especially Penangites.

He also paid tribute to his predecessors – former  prime ministers Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi — who  were instrumental in seeing to the realisation of the landmark infrastructure project.

           "Despite the change in leadership for Penang following the 2008 general election, it was Pak Lah (Abdullah) who maintained that the bridge project must go on.

"We have to rise above politics ... We must do what is right for the people of Malaysia," he said when officiating the opening of the bridge.

            The RM4.5 billion bridge, spanning 24km, took five years to be completed and now links Batu Kawan in Seberang Prai and Batu Maung on the island and the crossing involves a 20 minute car ride.

            Motorists will get to enjoy a month's long toll-free ride effective today. Some 17km of the bridge is built over water, and will have the distinction of being the longest bridge in the world which incorporates the High Damping Rubber Bearing (HDRB) which provides an effective seismic isolation system.

The dual carriageway bridge, with a dedicated motorcycle lane on each side, is almost double the length of the first Penang Bridge, built in 1985.

            Najib, along with his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and other VIPs who included Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhzir Mahathir,  Abdullah, Cabinet Ministers and members of the diplomatic corps, were taken on a "Hop-On Hop-Off" bus ride on the new bridge after the launching ceremony.

Also present were Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof and Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Mahbob and managing director Datuk Dr Ismail Mohamed Taib.

            Pointing to international icons around the world such as San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Najib said Malaysia could hold her own in having Southeast Asia's longest bridge.