Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in a statement that the state exco unanimously agreed to rename Lebuhraya Bandar Cassia to Jalan Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a tribute to the late former prime minister. - Facebook pic, April 16, 2025
Penang to rename Bandar Cassia road after Pak Lah, state flag to fly at half-mast: Chow
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says the state exco agreed to rename the road in the township as a form of recognition for the former PM's contributions, while MARA is proposing to rename MRSM Kepala Batas in his honour
R. Dineskumar
Updated 5 hours ago
16 April, 2025
4:14 PM MYT
GEORGE TOWN – The Penang state government will rename a key road in Batu Kawan after the late fifth prime minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and fly the state flag at half-mast this Friday as a mark of respect, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
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In a statement, Chow announced that the state executive council had unanimously agreed to rename Lebuhraya Bandar Cassia to Jalan Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The move, he said, was a gesture of appreciation for Abdullah’s contributions to Penang’s development during his tenure as prime minister from 2003 to 2009.
As a native of Penang, the Bayan Lepas-born leader gave one of the state’s most significant gifts — the second Penang bridge, which connects Batu Maung on the island with Batu Kawan on the mainland — when he announced the project in Parliament as part of the Ninth Malaysia Plan in 2003.
“The bridge spurred economic growth for Batu Maung, as well as the development of Bandar Cassia in Batu Kawan into a new special industrial zone,” said Chow.
He added that Abdullah, fondly referred to as “Pak Lah”, played a vital role in naming the Bandar Cassia township on August 24, 2004, and securing approval for the Bandar Cassia Master Plan from the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN) on October 26 that same year.
The state executive council later endorsed the use of the Bandar Cassia name for the Batu Kawan township on August 10, 2016.
“Therefore, the state government would like to preserve the legacy of Allayarham by renaming Lebuhraya Bandar Cassia to Jalan Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,” the chief minister said.
Chow also highlighted several development initiatives championed by the former premier which benefitted Penang, including the RM1 billion expansion of the Penang International Airport (PIA), the RM2.7 billion Penang Sentral transport hub in Butterworth, the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR), and the formation of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).
“Tun Abdullah’s passing was a massive loss to the country, especially Penang. May all of his contributions and services that he gave in developing this country and this state would forever be remembered by all Malaysians and Penangites,” Chow said.
The directive to fly the state flag at half-mast, he said, applies to all state and local government premises throughout Penang.
“Private premise owners are encouraged to do so as a sign of gratitude to Tun Abdullah.”
Abdullah passed away at 7.10pm on Monday at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur. He was 85.
The former Kepala Batas MP, who served seven terms from 1978 to 2008, was accorded a state funeral and laid to rest at the Heroes’ Mausoleum at the National Mosque on Tuesday. The Jalur Gemilang was flown at half-mast within a 2km radius of the mosque until the conclusion of the funeral ceremony.
Meanwhile, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has proposed that Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Kepala Batas be renamed MRSM Tun Abdullah Badawi, in honour of the late premier.
In an Instagram post today, Asyraf Wajdi said he would bring the proposal to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also heads the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW).
“This is to honour the legacy of the late Pak Lah (Tun Abdullah). I will seek the approval of the KKDW Minister (Ahmad Zahid) to rename MRSM Kepala Batas to MRSM Tun Abdullah Badawi,” he said.
Tun Abdullah, who held ministerial portfolios including education and foreign affairs before becoming prime minister, is also remembered for his soft-spoken demeanour and moderate leadership. He championed the concept of Islam Hadhari and policies rooted in integrity and transparency. – April 16, 2025
Penang to rename Bandar Cassia road after Pak Lah, state flag to fly at half-mast: Chow
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says the state exco agreed to rename the road in the township as a form of recognition for the former PM's contributions, while MARA is proposing to rename MRSM Kepala Batas in his honour
R. Dineskumar
Updated 5 hours ago
16 April, 2025
4:14 PM MYT
GEORGE TOWN – The Penang state government will rename a key road in Batu Kawan after the late fifth prime minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and fly the state flag at half-mast this Friday as a mark of respect, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
In a statement, Chow announced that the state executive council had unanimously agreed to rename Lebuhraya Bandar Cassia to Jalan Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The move, he said, was a gesture of appreciation for Abdullah’s contributions to Penang’s development during his tenure as prime minister from 2003 to 2009.
As a native of Penang, the Bayan Lepas-born leader gave one of the state’s most significant gifts — the second Penang bridge, which connects Batu Maung on the island with Batu Kawan on the mainland — when he announced the project in Parliament as part of the Ninth Malaysia Plan in 2003.
“The bridge spurred economic growth for Batu Maung, as well as the development of Bandar Cassia in Batu Kawan into a new special industrial zone,” said Chow.
He added that Abdullah, fondly referred to as “Pak Lah”, played a vital role in naming the Bandar Cassia township on August 24, 2004, and securing approval for the Bandar Cassia Master Plan from the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN) on October 26 that same year.
The state executive council later endorsed the use of the Bandar Cassia name for the Batu Kawan township on August 10, 2016.
“Therefore, the state government would like to preserve the legacy of Allayarham by renaming Lebuhraya Bandar Cassia to Jalan Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,” the chief minister said.
Chow also highlighted several development initiatives championed by the former premier which benefitted Penang, including the RM1 billion expansion of the Penang International Airport (PIA), the RM2.7 billion Penang Sentral transport hub in Butterworth, the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR), and the formation of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).
“Tun Abdullah’s passing was a massive loss to the country, especially Penang. May all of his contributions and services that he gave in developing this country and this state would forever be remembered by all Malaysians and Penangites,” Chow said.
The directive to fly the state flag at half-mast, he said, applies to all state and local government premises throughout Penang.
“Private premise owners are encouraged to do so as a sign of gratitude to Tun Abdullah.”
Abdullah passed away at 7.10pm on Monday at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur. He was 85.
The former Kepala Batas MP, who served seven terms from 1978 to 2008, was accorded a state funeral and laid to rest at the Heroes’ Mausoleum at the National Mosque on Tuesday. The Jalur Gemilang was flown at half-mast within a 2km radius of the mosque until the conclusion of the funeral ceremony.
Meanwhile, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has proposed that Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Kepala Batas be renamed MRSM Tun Abdullah Badawi, in honour of the late premier.
In an Instagram post today, Asyraf Wajdi said he would bring the proposal to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also heads the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW).
“This is to honour the legacy of the late Pak Lah (Tun Abdullah). I will seek the approval of the KKDW Minister (Ahmad Zahid) to rename MRSM Kepala Batas to MRSM Tun Abdullah Badawi,” he said.
Tun Abdullah, who held ministerial portfolios including education and foreign affairs before becoming prime minister, is also remembered for his soft-spoken demeanour and moderate leadership. He championed the concept of Islam Hadhari and policies rooted in integrity and transparency. – April 16, 2025