Malaysia's Ambitious Project to Build a Dumai-Malacca Bridge

viralnasional.com - Jakarta - The Malacca State Government, Malaysia, has officially announced a strategic plan to develop a bridge infrastructure that will connect the region with Riau Province, Indonesia.

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This ambitious project was first outlined by Malacca Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh, who envisions the construction of a bridge with a span exceeding 47 kilometers (km).

The infrastructure is planned to connect the Pengkalan Balak Beach area in Masjid Tanah, Malacca, directly to Indonesian territory. As a first step, the state government will begin a feasibility study next January, allocating RM500,000 (approximately IDR 2 billion). The funds will be used by professional consultants to comprehensively assess the technical aspects, economic value, and logistics management of the project proposal.

Ab Rauf Yusoh emphasized that the bridge is predicted to provide a significant economic stimulus to Malacca. One of the main downstream impacts is the planned conversion of 5,000 hectares of land in the Masjid Tanah area to be developed into a new integrated industrial estate.

However, as quoted by Free Malaysia Today, Tuesday (23/12/2025), Melaka's opposition leader, Dr. Yadzil Yaakub, questioned the purpose and feasibility of the proposed bridge. While stating that the project is feasible, Yadzil questioned whether the Melaka government has the financial capacity to cover its costs.

He described the project as unrealistic. He said the state government only collects limited annual revenue, almost all of which is used for operational expenses, and still owes money to several parties, including the federal government.

"If we can't pay off our existing debt, how can the state government convince the people that it can manage billions of ringgit worth of new debt wisely?" he said.

"The reality is that Melaka's government spending is heavily dependent on Putrajaya's assistance. If we need federal assistance just to repair state roads, how can we finance the construction of a bridge across the Strait of Malacca?" he added.

"And with the rising national debt and ongoing fiscal pressures, it's unreasonable to expect the federal government to shoulder the financial burden of this proposed mega project," he added.

Yadzil further stated that starting the project through a private financing initiative or private concession would still mean high toll costs and the risk of the project becoming a lost cause. He added that the part of Indonesia the bridge would connect is not a major economic hub and would likely generate minimal benefits for Malacca.

"And if the concession fails, the government will be forced to bail out the project using public funds. In all scenarios, it is the people who will suffer," he said.

The Bemban Legislative Council member also expressed concerns about the project's environmental impact on the coastline. He cited the state government's track record of failed projects.***

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