LIAP #08: BAILEY BRIDGE 20/5/2021

LIAP #08: BAILEY BRIDGE
20/5/2021


A Rainy Night and a Collapsed Bridge
On the night of December 1978, amidst a relentless downpour, I received an urgent call that would test my mettle as a young engineer. My Technical Assistant (TA), responsible for road maintenance, informed me that a bridge along the Pasir Mas–Tanah Merah Road had collapsed due to the heavy rainfall. The situation demanded immediate action: the road had to be closed to the public, and the damaged structure needed to be replaced with a Bailey Bridge as swiftly as possible.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I prepared myself and drove to the office, arriving in less than five minutes. As the District Engineer for JKR Pasir Mas and Tumpat, I was fortunate to have government quarters located near my office—a strategic arrangement that allowed for rapid response in emergencies like this. By 10 p.m., I was at the office, where my TA had already assessed the damage and briefed me on the situation. He outlined a plan to erect a Bailey Bridge, ensuring that the road would be passable for all traffic within the next 48 hours. At that time, JKR maintained its own workforce and a stockpile of bridge components, enabling us to act swiftly without relying on external contractors.
This was my first major crisis as an engineer. At just 26 years old, I had no prior experience in bridge fabrication, especially under such urgent conditions. My TA, however, was twice my age and had over two decades of hands-on experience. His team was equally seasoned. Despite my inexperience, I knew that as the leader, my role was to remain composed, make decisive choices, and guide my team with confidence. Leadership, I realized, wasn’t about having all the answers; it was about taking responsibility and trusting the expertise of those around me.
After the technical and logistical briefing, I gave the order to proceed. Recognizing the operation’s public impact and financial implications, I ensured that all key stakeholders, including the OCPD and the District Officer, were informed and aligned.
The following morning, I visited the site and was struck by the efficiency and dedication of my team. True to their word, within 48 hours, the Bailey Bridge was successfully installed, and the road was reopened to the public. Witnessing the restored access filled me with immense pride—not just in the work we had accomplished, but in being part of JKR, an organization dedicated to public service.JKR- Jasa Kepada Rakyat!
Incidentally, the Bailey Bridge was extensively used by the British Army during World War II. I was particularly pleased to learn that its designer was a graduate of Sheffield University, where I had earned my civil engineering degree from 1973 to 1976. This connection added a personal touch to the experience, linking my academic background to the practical challenges I now faced.
That rainy night taught me a valuable lesson: leadership is not about knowing everything but about taking responsibility, making decisions, and trusting the expertise of your team. It was a defining moment in my career, reinforcing my commitment to serving the public through engineering.
Reflecting on this experience, I realized that while it took only two days to replace the collapsed bridge, the months of training and teamwork that preceded it were equally critical. Assembling and fabricating the various components of the Bailey Bridge required precision, coordination, and a deep understanding of the process. Such critical tasks were reserved for a select group of skilled officers and workmen, as the sites could be hazardous. The team, along with the necessary equipment and materials, had to be on standby at all times, ready to respond to emergencies.
This experience also holds a broader lesson for life and business: we must always be prepared for the unexpected. The current COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of this. None of us could have foreseen the drastic changes it would bring—pilots becoming redundant and turning to delivery jobs or selling nasi lemak by the roadside to make ends meet. I consider myself fortunate to have had the security of a government contract during such uncertain times.
In conclusion, that rainy night in 1978 was more than just a test of engineering skills; it was a lesson in leadership, resilience, and the importance of preparation. Whether in our personal lives or professional endeavors, we must always be ready to face the unexpected with courage and determination.
Above is a photo of Bailey Bridge at Pengkalan Haji Ali, Bachok.




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