GEORGE TOWN, Feb 24 ― The Coalition of Islamic NGOs Penang today urged Putrajaya to name the Penang Second Bridge that will open soon in honour of the Yang diPertuan Agong.

The organisation's secretary Ahmad Yakqub Nazri said this is a fitting gesture to the Agong as this is the longest bridge in the country and the third-longest in the world. 

“By naming the bridge after the King, it will elevate the name of the King in the world especially now that the annual international bridge marathon will be held in the new bridge,” he told a media conference today.

He said since Penang is synonymous with Kedah so it is fitting to name the 24km bridge after Sultan Abdul Halim Mua'dzam Shah of Kedah, who is the current monarch.

The organisation that consists of 25 Muslim groups in Penang believed that all Penangites will be proud to have the bridge named after the Agong.

At the same time,  he said the first Penang bridge could also be named after the King's consort, Raja Permaisuri Agong Hamimah Hamidun.

“It would be a lovely combination to have the first and second bridge named after the King and Queen,” he said.

A view of the completed Penang Second Bridge which is expected to be opened to traffic this Saturday.

Ahmad said they will be sending their proposal to the Istana Negara and Putrajaya.

“We hope the federal government will consider our proposal,” he said.

The RM4.5 billion bridge was just recently completed and is expected to be opened to traffic this Saturday.