KUALA SUNGAI MELAKA BRIDGE MURAL IS LANGKAWI’S NEW TOURIST ATTRACTION

LANGKAWI, May 19 (Bernama) -- The creation of a large-scale mural highlighting the Langkawi Geopark has transformed the Kuala Sungai Melaka Bridge into a new tourist attraction on the island.

Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the new attraction was the result of a collaboration between the National Art Gallery Langkawi Branch and the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) under a special programme held in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA’25).

“This is among the initiatives taken to beautify all tourist areas, which is why 12 local artists painted murals such as ‘Trilobite’, ‘Pink Dolphin’ and the eagle, all of which are synonymous with Langkawi.

“Tourists can stop on both sides of the bridge to take photos with the murals in the background, accompanied by scenic views of Gunung Mat Chincang and Sungai Melaka,” he said after the Kuala Sungai Melaka Bridge Beautification Programme today.

Meanwhile, National Art Gallery director-general Amerrudin Ahmad said the project took two weeks to complete, involving several phases such as cleaning, painting and mural production.

“This programme involves the participation of 12 local mural artists, namely Dhiyaul Mohamad Ashraf Dawari, Muhammad Firdaus Musa, Muhammad Riduan Raja Yunus, Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Adib, Muhammad Izwan Rahimi, Norafandi Rosli, Hardiana Hidayah Azni, Abdul Qoyyum Mohd Nadzri, Mohammed Nabil Sohaini, Fauzan Adzima Pangestu Padzli, Mohamad Fakhri Mohd Salleh and Muhammad Izharuddin Mohd Salleh.

“This approach not only enhances public understanding of visual arts but also fosters a sense of responsibility to preserve and appreciate public spaces as shared assets. It reflects the National Art Gallery’s ongoing commitment to bringing art closer to the community and promoting cultural heritage through an inclusive, contemporary and educational approach,” he said.

Amerrudin expressed hope that the programme would add vibrancy to LIMA’25 while also promoting Langkawi as an island rich in artistic and cultural values, in line with the Visit Kedah 2025 and Visit Malaysia 2026 campaigns.

In the meantime, LADA chief executive officer Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid said the bridge was chosen due to its strategic location as the main tourist route and for its potential to be developed into a public art space that could enhance visitors’ cultural and visual experiences.

Dhiyaul Mohamad Ashraf Dawari, 32, who has over 10 years of experience in mural painting, said his team took two weeks to complete the mural, which stretched approximately 100 metres, using a variety of tools and elements.

--BERNAMA