UTAR Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) and MBEC-Jawala Consortium Sdn Bhd jointly organised a visit to Batang Lupar Bridge and LONGi Solar Factory (LONGi), Sarawak on 5 and 6 April 2023.

The visit saw the participation of 28 UTAR Department of Civil Engineering students as well as 40 students and four staff from Chung Hwa High School (CHHS), Kuching, Sarawak. They were also accompanied by LKC FES academics Ts Dr Tan Ooi Kuan and Assoc Prof Ir Dr Lim Boon Han, and Division of Programme Promotion staff Chin Yuon Loong.

Besides providing students exposure to Sarawakian food, people and culture, the visit also aimed to enlighten them on engineering principles as well as the design and construction of Batang Lupar Bridge. Moreover, it aimed to expose students to the manufacturing process of solar cells as well as the career opportunity of working in solar industry since solar energy is an important source of renewable energy in support of sustainability for Malaysia. Other objectives include building networks, enhancing UTAR’s exposure and public image to the local companies, and anchoring cooperation between UTAR and industry players. 

“This visit is important to deliver engineering knowledge on bridge construction and solar cells manufacturing to students. It also provides hands-on exposure and enables them to learn something new, other than promoting awareness of sustainable environment,” said Ts Dr Tan.

LKC FES also received generous sponsorship from the Chairman and Founder of Silverlake Axis Sdn Bhd, Mr Goh Peng Ooi and the President of Belt and Road International Science Education Consortium (BRISEC), Dato’ Ir Lee Yee Cheong for this insightful visit.

According to Dato' Lee Yee Cheong, Malaysia BRISEC President, this students' visit to Sarawak's Batang Lupar Cross Ocean Bridge Project is a programme of the Belt and Road International Science Education Consortium (BRISEC), and Chinese infrastructure contractors, which encourage local students to visit Belt and Road projects in their own countries. Another successful visit in ASEAN was the visit of Indonesian students to the Jakarta Bandung high speed rail project. Many more visits are being arranged in other Belt and Road countries. For more information, please contact BRISEC Deputy Director General Yang Feng of CAST Beijing yangfeng@cast.org.cn.

Belt and Road International Science Education Consortium (BRISEC) is an international consortium that promotes the coordinated development of international science education through extensive cooperation among government departments, scientific organisations, schools and enterprises.

The 4.8 km-long Batang Lupar Bridge is Malaysia’s longest river-crossing bridge. The estimated cost of the project is RM848.7 million. It is expected to be completed in July 2025. This is a collaborative project between Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR), contractor Perbena Emas Sdn Bhd and one of China’s reputable construction firms—China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Company Ltd.

LONGi, on the other hand, is the world’s leading supplier of solar PV solutions. It focuses on developing solutions for large-scale power plants for different industries and households with its innovation-focused development. LONGi Solar also supplies “Green Power + Green Hydrogen” solutions for global zero-carbon development.