Former Chief Minister of Penang, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, highly praised the contributions to the development of Penang during Abdullah Badawi's tenure as the Prime Minister.
He pointed out that at the request of the Penang state government, Abdullah approved and implemented several key development projects, including the Sultan Abdul Halim Bridge (Second Penang Bridge), the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), the light rail transit system from George Town to the airport, the new township of Bandar Cassia Batu Kawan, and the Penang public bus system. These developments laid the foundation for Penang's future decades.
In addition, Koh Tsu Koon also accompanied Abdullah on numerous investment promotion visits, notably in 2003, when Abdullah, as Deputy Prime Minister, led a delegation to visit Beijing and Xiamen. At his suggestion, Abdullah made a special visit to Xiamen University, sowing the seeds for the future establishment of Xiamen University Malaysia Campus.
Dr. Koh Tsu Koon released a statement today, deeply mourning the death of the 5th Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and penned a remembrance of this