Johor roads and bridges to be upgraded

Dr Ahmad Zahid (bending down) taking a closer look of the Cuplump Modified Asphalt being used in the road widening project.

LABIS: The Federal Government has allocated RM29.43bil under the 11th Malaysian Plan to fund 365 development projects in Johor.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 16 out of the 365 projects involved infrastructure including building and upgrading roads and bridges that were in bad condition.

“In fact, 136 projects in Johor have already been completed, 134 are still being carried out while the remaining 26% is in the final stages including appointing a consultant, design and land acquisition,” he added.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said this in his speech before officiating the Federal road widening project of Jalan Yong Peng-Segamat here recently.

He pointed out that Jalan Yong Peng-Segamat, which connects Kampung Desa Temu Jodoh and Kampung Kwong Sai, was the first location in the country to use Cuplump Modified Asphalt (CMA), where its main substance was natural rubber.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said the usage of CMA technology would help reduce the cost of maintaining the road and upgrade the road surface quality compared to the conventional method.

Dr Ahmad Zahid (third from right) and his wife Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis (second from right) with Chua (right), Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (third from left) and his wife Datin Seri Rosni Omar launching the Jalan Yong Peng-Segamat widening project in Labis.

He added that the project, which involved a 10km stretch out of the 40km-long road, would indirectly increase the usage of rubber and help about 440,000 small planters in the country.

“Our roads are exposed to hot and humid weather, which causes damage, potholes and cracks that put road users in danger.

“We have achieved success in a new discovery that uses rubber in building roads through CMA technology, helping to reduce the cost in maintaining the roads,” he added.

Dr Ahmad Zahid also suggested that the usage of CMA technology could be used throughout the country as 80% of the 66,445km roads in Malaysia was paved road.

“I would like to offer Bagan Datuk to be the first district to use CMA technology on a big scale starting from this year even though Labis is the first location to use such technology,” he added.

Meanwhile, Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong, who is also the Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister and MCA vice-president, said he and his constituents were grateful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak for approving the RM92.3mil road project.

He pointed out that the prime minister also approved RM16mil to carry out road works between Sawah Baru and Tenang Station here.

“I have been fighting to get approval for the project as it is part of my manifesto for the people in the last general election and I would like to thank the Government for approving it.

“This will bring many benefits to the people here and they would always support Barisan Nasional for continued growth,” he said.