Opening ceremony of Friendship Bridge Malaysia - Brunei

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak and His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah officially opened a bridge at the Malaysia - Brunei border to facilitate travel between the two countries. The Prime Minister and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei signed a plaque and cut a ribbon in a symbolic gestures to open the Friendship Bridge (Jambatan Persahabatan) that goes across the Padaruan River and connects the Limbang Division in Sarawak to the Temburong District in Brunei Darussalam.

The bridge which is 189 meters long and 14 meters wide was built at a cost of RM20.8 million. The project was handled through negotiations of the Joint Project Team (JPT) and Bridge Management Committee (BMC) with the JPT meetings eight times and the BMC, thrice, in Kuala Lumpur and Bandar Seri Begawan. The launch of the project at the site was held on Sept 13, 2011 and construction work began in May last year. The bridge was completed last month.

The opening ceremony reflected the close bond between Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. The Chief Minister of Sarawak, Pehin Seri Abdul Taib Mahmud; the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Aman; Federal Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman; Federal Works Minister, Datuk Fadillah Yusof; and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were also present in the opening ceremony which was held on the bridge.