Langkawi: 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 announced this initiative, which resulted from a collaboration between the National Art Gallery Langkawi Branch and the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA). This project was undertaken as part of a special programme in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA’25).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative aims to beautify tourist areas, featuring murals like ‘Trilobite’, ‘Pink Dolphin’, and the eagle, all symbolic of Langkawi. Tourists can capture photos on both sides of the bridge, with the murals set against the backdrop of Gunung Mat Chincang and Sungai Melaka.

National Art Gallery director-general Amerrudin Ahmad stated that the project took two weeks to complete, involving phases such as cleaning, painting, and mural production. Twelve local artists participated, including Dhiyaul Mohamad Ashraf Dawari, Muhammad Firdaus Musa, and others. The programme seeks to enhance public understanding of visual arts and promote cultural heritage through an inclusive, contemporary, and educational approach.

Amerrudin hopes the programme will add vibrancy to LIMA’25 and promote Langkawi’s artistic and cultural values, aligning with the Visit Kedah 2025 and Visit Malaysia 2026 campaigns. LADA chief executive officer Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid remarked that the bridge’s strategic location makes it an ideal public art space to enhance cultural and visual experiences for visitors.

Dhiyaul Mohamad Ashraf Dawari, a mural artist with over 10 years of experience, shared that the mural, approximately 100 meters long, was completed in two weeks using various tools and elements.