YII Winner: Malaysia Bridges the Remote Divide with Digital Twin Innovation

• 9 January 2026
• Local News
• 1017 Views

Jabatan Kerja Raya Sarawak (JKRS) has been recognized as a global leader in infrastructure for its work on the Sarawak Sabah Link Road Phase 2 (SSLR2). This MYR 7.15 billion project creates the first continuous land link between Sarawak and Sabah, providing vital year-round access for over 70,000 residents who were previously isolated by international border closures and rugged terrain. The project is also one of the winners in the Bentley Year in Infrastructure (YII) 2025.

The 335-kilometer highway passes through some of Malaysia’s most challenging environments, including steep mountains and areas with extreme rainfall. To meet a strict 60-month deadline and manage environmental sensitivities, JKRS abandoned traditional 2D methods in favor of a Bentley Systems digital-first strategy:

• Accelerated Engineering: Using OpenRoads Designer, the team optimized geometric alignments and slope stabilization in real-time, boosting design efficiency by 50%.
• Seamless Collaboration: ProjectWise served as the central hub, connecting government agencies and consultants across remote zones to ensure traceable and rapid design reviews.
• Spatial Coordination: OpenCities Map allowed engineers to layer road data with forestry and land records, helping the team avoid protected wildlife zones and timber concessions.
• 4D Construction: With SYNCHRO 4D, JKRS simulated construction sequences to visualize potential conflicts before they happened on-site, while iTwin Capture turned drone data into photorealistic 3D models for transparent progress monitoring.

Beyond simply building a road, JKRS has set a new standard for Malaysian engineering. The project’s “Digital Twin” will be used throughout the road’s lifecycle to optimize maintenance and ensure public safety for generations.

“By transforming roadway construction through digital twin excellence, we ensure sustainable infrastructure for generations to come,” said Cassidy Anak Morris, Director of Public Works, Sarawak.

The SSLR2 is expected to be completed by June 2029, promising to spark economic growth in agriculture and tourism while securing essential access to healthcare and education for remote communities.

• Digital Twin
• Bentley Systems
• OpenRoads
• Sarawak
• YII winner
• OpenCities