Prime Minister Najib Razak today opened the Second Penang Bridge with more than 10,000 people attending to observe the historic event of the unveiling of the country's latest iconic
structure.
Najib, dressed in black and purple, arrived at about 8.30pm accompanied by his wife, Rosmah Mansor, Works Minister Fadillah Yusof and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
The arrival of the prime minister and his wife was greeted by the song '1M4U' and people were seen rushing to shake hands and having their photographs taken with the prime minister while some shouted "I Love PM".
Also present at the event were former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and wife, Tun Jeane Abdullah, former Penang chief minister Koh Tsu Koon, Malaysian special ambassador to India and South Asia who was also former MIC president, S Samy Vellu and Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir.
As soon as Najib opened the second bridge, the sky above Penang island was lighted with a fireworks display to symbolise the official opening of the new bridge, which is the longest in Southeast Asia.
The prime minister and his wife also boarded an 'open top' double-storey bus from the Batu Maung junction up to the middle span, where the arch of the bridge is located.
Environmental friendly design
After a five-year wait, the new bridge will be opened to the public at 12.01 midnight for the people to see for themselves the unique structure of the bridge and the toll plazas, said to be the biggest in the country with 28 payment kiosks.
The 24km-long bridge, of which 17 kilometres were built over the sea and seven kilometres on land, will stimulate the economic growth of the state, particularly the industrial zone on the mainland at Batu Kawan.
Besides reducing the congestion on the Penang Bridge, the new bridge, mooted by former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and realised by Abdullah, will narrow down the social and economic development gap between Batu Maung on the island and Batu Kawan on the mainland.
The mega project, costing RM4.5 billion, was handled by the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC) while Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) is the concession holder for a period of 45 years.
Besides being constructed using an environmental friendly design, the second bridge can withstand tremors of up to 8.2 on the Richter scale at a distance of 300km from the epicentre of the quake.
On April 30 last year, the prime minister was the first national leader to use the Second Penang Bridge from the island to the mainland to attend a function in Kepala Batas, Seberang Perai.
No toll for one month
Najib said that the new bridge will be named the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge.
He said the decision was made after receiving the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah.
"If there's an awesome bridge like this and people mention it as second Penang bridge, there is no umph, no significance....
"With this built bridge and named (after the Agong), InsyaAllah (God willing), it will remain in perpetuity in the annals of Malaysian history," he said when officially opening the bridge.
Describing the opening of the new bridge as a historic and important moment in the nation's journey, the prime minister also announced that toll would not be charged on its users for one month.
Najib said although there was a change of power in Penang in 2008, the project proceeded as it was for the benefit of the state's people.
"There are times when we must rise above politics and this is the kind of spirit we should promote; there must be great ambitions for Malaysia.
"Therefore, it is important that whatever our political ideology, we should prioritise nation-building and Malaysia's development," he said.
- Bernama
structure.
Najib, dressed in black and purple, arrived at about 8.30pm accompanied by his wife, Rosmah Mansor, Works Minister Fadillah Yusof and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
The arrival of the prime minister and his wife was greeted by the song '1M4U' and people were seen rushing to shake hands and having their photographs taken with the prime minister while some shouted "I Love PM".
Also present at the event were former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and wife, Tun Jeane Abdullah, former Penang chief minister Koh Tsu Koon, Malaysian special ambassador to India and South Asia who was also former MIC president, S Samy Vellu and Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir.As soon as Najib opened the second bridge, the sky above Penang island was lighted with a fireworks display to symbolise the official opening of the new bridge, which is the longest in Southeast Asia.
The prime minister and his wife also boarded an 'open top' double-storey bus from the Batu Maung junction up to the middle span, where the arch of the bridge is located.
Environmental friendly design
After a five-year wait, the new bridge will be opened to the public at 12.01 midnight for the people to see for themselves the unique structure of the bridge and the toll plazas, said to be the biggest in the country with 28 payment kiosks.
The 24km-long bridge, of which 17 kilometres were built over the sea and seven kilometres on land, will stimulate the economic growth of the state, particularly the industrial zone on the mainland at Batu Kawan.Besides reducing the congestion on the Penang Bridge, the new bridge, mooted by former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and realised by Abdullah, will narrow down the social and economic development gap between Batu Maung on the island and Batu Kawan on the mainland.
The mega project, costing RM4.5 billion, was handled by the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC) while Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) is the concession holder for a period of 45 years.Besides being constructed using an environmental friendly design, the second bridge can withstand tremors of up to 8.2 on the Richter scale at a distance of 300km from the epicentre of the quake.
On April 30 last year, the prime minister was the first national leader to use the Second Penang Bridge from the island to the mainland to attend a function in Kepala Batas, Seberang Perai.
No toll for one month
Najib said that the new bridge will be named the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge.
He said the decision was made after receiving the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah.
"If there's an awesome bridge like this and people mention it as second Penang bridge, there is no umph, no significance....
"With this built bridge and named (after the Agong), InsyaAllah (God willing), it will remain in perpetuity in the annals of Malaysian history," he said when officially opening the bridge.Describing the opening of the new bridge as a historic and important moment in the nation's journey, the prime minister also announced that toll would not be charged on its users for one month.
Najib said although there was a change of power in Penang in 2008, the project proceeded as it was for the benefit of the state's people.
"There are times when we must rise above politics and this is the kind of spirit we should promote; there must be great ambitions for Malaysia.
"Therefore, it is important that whatever our political ideology, we should prioritise nation-building and Malaysia's development," he said.
- Bernama
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