Message from the President
Dear Members and Friends of REAAA:
As my four-year term as President draws to a close, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude, mixed with inevitable reflections and some regret that time has passed so quickly. With this final message in the Newsletter, I wish to look back on our shared journey and express my sincere thanks to all of you.
First and foremost, I offer my heartfelt condolences and respect to the late Dr. Hermanto Dardak, Tan Sri Dato’ Ir Dr. Wan Abdul Rahman bin Wan Yaacob , and Mr. Jaime Pacanan, who served our Association with great dedication under difficult circumstances.
I would also like to express special appreciation to Secretary General Ir Mohd Shahrom Ahmad Saman for his responsible leadership, and to Ms Zalilahwati Latif for her tireless commitment under challenging conditions. To all the members of the Executive Council and our wider membership, thank you for your unwavering support throughout my term.
When I assumed the presidency in 2021, the world was still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020.1–2024.4). Even the handover was conducted online – a telling sign of the challenges we faced. Despite such a constrained beginning, I committed to focusing on three core goals:
- Enhancing REAAA’s international standing
- Expanding membership
- Strengthening technical activities across our committees.
To raise the visibility of REAAA, we continued to enhance efforts with global partners such as PIARC and the IRF . While these organizations operate in different regions, they share a common mission centered on road infrastructure. In 2022, the presidents of all three associations convened in Dubai for the first time, and I hope the 17th REAAA Conference will mark the continuation of fruitful outcomes from our ongoing dialogue.
We also encouraged member countries to co-host regional events under the REAAA banner. A notable success was the seminar held in Bajo, Indonesia. In all such events, I have delivered keynote speeches as President, including:
- The 2nd International Seminar on Climate Change, Resilience and Disaster Management for Roads (Bajo,Indonesia)
- The 5th International Conference on Highway Engineering (iCHE) 2024 (Bangkok, Thailand)
- The IRF Road Safety and Sustainability Conference 2024 (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) – where I presented on ‘AI-based road safety in Korea
- The National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) International Technical Conference 2025 (Melbourne, Australia) – where I presented on ‘REAAA striving for a transport revolution’.
Through these engagements, we sought to elevate REAAA’s visibility and lay the groundwork for broader international exchange. Efforts were also made to expand our membership, with active outreach encouraging each country to recruit at least one new member. As a result, new countries such as Kazakhstan, Cambodia, and Vietnam are expected to join.
I have also worked to energize Young Engineers and Professionals (YEP) and Business Forum (BF) initiatives, encouraging practical, case-based presentations and promoting private sector involvement. Our Technical Committees (TCs) became more active, building collaborative platforms among members.
One of the most meaningful milestones during my tenure was the documentation of REAAA’s 50-year history. Portions of this were unveiled at the Bajo seminar, and extracts are presented in this edition of the Newsletter. I hope this history serves as a guide for the Association’s future.
I am also grateful to the Council of Road Federation (CRF) for establishing the Smart Highway Award during my term—another meaningful step for REAAA.
Looking ahead, REAAA must evolve into a platform that responds to emerging topics such as AI-driven smart infrastructure, and digital road policies. Strengthening our global network and expanding our membership strategically will be essential to enhancing REAAA’s stature.
Despite our efforts, I acknowledge that some goals remain unfulfilled. Membership growth has been modest, and engagement across the Association could have been more dynamic. I am deeply sorry to pass on these unresolved challenges to my successor and the incoming leadership.
Finally, I extend my sincere thanks to all Executive Council members who stood by me over the past four years, and to every member who has shown steady support and affection for REAAA. In addition, I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the editorial team of this Newsletter for their dedication and support in making this publication possible. I remain proud to be part of this Association and will continue to support it wholeheartedly. Serving as your President has been one of the greatest honours and joys of my professional life.
Thank you.