BATU GAJAH: The iconic Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No 5 (TT5) became the first tin mining dredger in this country and the world to receive an award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) United Kingdom.
State infrastructure, energy, water and public transport committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin said the recognition was a source of pride for Perak and Malaysia because the TT5 was the first dredger to be recognised by the engineering body which has given out 137 awards around the world.
According to him, the state government through the Menteri Besar's Corporation (MB Inc) has spent RM10 million since 2017 on repair works to maintain Malaysia's last surviving tin dredge.
"It is possible that there will be more allocations if needed, for repairs on the equipment in this dredger," he said at a media conference after the Heritage Award acceptance ceremony by IMechE Engineering at the TT5 Heritage Site, near here, today.
The award was presented in person by IMechE Eur Ing president Phil Peel. Also present were state tourism, industry, investment and corridor development committee chairman Loh Sze Yee and communications, multimedia and NGO committee chairman Mohd Azlan Helmi Helmi.
Among engineering marvels that have earned such recognition were the Concorde aircraft, the RAF Museum Supermarine Spitfire and the Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital.
The 85-year-old dredger TT5 was built by a British company, FW Payne & Sons in 1938 and is now under the supervision of MB Inc through its subsidiary, Amanjaya TTS Sdn. Bhd.
TT5 was selected as the recipient of the award because it meets the criteria of being well-maintained, contributing to the state and national economy and having its own heritage characteristics.
Peel said the engineering body took three to four months to conduct an assessment of the TT5 before the recognition decision was approved.
"It takes about three to four months to be precise (to take the application that came in to be reviewed by the committee) and TT5 was the only (tin dredge) that survived. This is the criteria for the impact of engineering as well as heritage," he said.– BERNAMA