The government has identified nearly RM4 billion worth of urgent road repair needs across Malaysia, but upgrades will be carried out in phases due to budget constraints, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
According to New Straits Times, the Ministry of Works (KKR) has prioritised improvements for routes that are in critical condition.
We already have complete data on dangerous roads and the financial requirements. If we wanted to repair everything at once, we would need RM4 billion. Since we don’t have that allocation, the repairs will have to be done in stages,” Nanta told reporters during a recent Gawai Open House event.
Gerik–Jeli Route gets immediate attention
Among the first projects lined up for improvement this year is the Gerik–Jeli stretch of the East–West Highway (JRTB). The project includes the installation of 385 street lights and road markings to improve visibility and safety, at an estimated cost of RM55 million.
The minister said that the ministry has already pinpointed the worst-affected roads using its existing database and will prioritise those routes first.
“We know which roads are in the worst shape, and those will be addressed first. Roads that are damaged but not critical will be handled later,” he added.
Tech-Driven inspections & public feedback considered
To support the decision-making process, the ministry is also relying on the Pavement Condition Assessment (PCA) method to determine which areas require urgent attention.
For the JRTB route specifically, PCA was conducted between March 13 and May 13, using advanced technologies such as the Multi Laser Profiler (MLP) and Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) to assess road surface conditions.
In addition, the ministry is open to public suggestions — including calls to install road barriers in high-risk areas.
We take all feedback seriously — from the public, netizens, and relevant stakeholders. Every suggestion will be carefully evaluated,” Nanta said.
