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The construction of the East-West Highway was mooted by then first Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj on 1967.
It was built in the 1970 as a defence-related highway during the Communist Insurgency War from 1968 to 1989.
The Malaysian Government, then, introduced a new strategy of fighting the Communist Party of Malaya. It was known as Security and Development or KESBAN (the local acronym Program Keselamatan dan Pembangunan) and focused on civil military affairs.
Under KESBAN, the government made large efforts to develop rural areas with the implementation of massive development programs such as building roads, schools, hospitals, medical clinics, and public utilities like electricity and water supply.
In October 1969, the JKR was instructed to commence work on the Highway with immediate effect.
In early 1970, work started, simultaneously from Gerik and Jeli even before any detailed design or investigations were carried out. Existing earth moving machines from the various states were initially deployed until new machines for the project were purchased.
It was only in early 1973 that the full complement of machines and staff were available for the project to proceed.
In the early stages, there was military presence in every kilometre.
The road was built to cut off the Communist terrorist from the safe havens in Thailand.
Two Base Camps were constructed, one at the Gerik and the other at the Jeli.
The whole construction staff and their families were housed at these camps.
A pilot track was constructed to gain access to the forward areas.
This was followed by jungle clearing work by the main earthworks teams.
As work progressed and travel time between the work site and Base camp increased, forward camps were set up to house the workers.
During construction, the Highway was sabotaged and ambushed by the Communist terrorists during the Communist insurgency from 1970 to 1982.
Many of workers were killed and the buldozers was seriously damaged.
The East-West Highway was put under strict security control by the Territorial Army Regiment of the Malaysian Army during construction and during the opening of the Highway in 1 July 1982.
This military operation during construction of the Highway known as "Ops Pagar" (Operation Barrier).
Motorists were allowed to use the Highway at daytime only due to security reasons. The military control of the Highway was lifted after the insurgency war was ended in 1989.
The successful completion of the East-West Highway is the result of the sacrifice of workers who had to carry out their jobs under difficult and trying conditions.