KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 3,000 solar-powered LED streetlights will be installed at 32 highway accident blackspots nationwide under the Pantau Madani programme in a move aimed at reducing fatal crashes and improving road safety.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the initiative followed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement under Budget 2026 to enhance road safety across the country.
He said the government had approved RM25.24mil for the current phase of the project from the RM30mil allocation announced under Budget 2026, with the remaining funds to be considered based on prevailing needs.
"The balance of the allocation will be considered based on current requirements, as the installation of streetlights must be carried out in a targeted manner and based on risk assessments as well as actual needs at specific locations," he said after the Letter of Acceptance (SST) handover ceremony for the Pantau Madani programme at Menara Kerja Raya here on Tuesday (June 23).
Nanta said the project is expected to be completed by the end of November and will cover several major highways, including the North-South Expressway, the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway, the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, and the East Coast Expressway Phases 1 and 2.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) director-general Datuk Mohd Hadzmir Yusoff said the 32 locations were identified through accident data analysis and road safety assessments, particularly in areas with a higher risk of crashes at night and during adverse weather conditions.
He said LLM had also engaged highway concessionaires and analysed data from the Malaysia Highway Road Accident Database and Analysis System (MHROADS) to identify high-risk stretches requiring improved lighting.
"Locations that recorded a weighted score of 15 points and above in the MHROADS system are classified as blackspots and were prioritised under this project," he said.
Mohd Hadzmir said contractors were selected through an open tender process to ensure the project is carried out according to specifications, safety standards and the stipulated timeline.
Of the 32 locations identified, the Southern Region will receive the highest number of installations, involving 1,305 streetlights at 11 locations. This is followed by the Northern Region with 691 units at nine locations, the Eastern Region with 690 units at nine locations, and the Central Region with 314 units at three locations.
He said the streetlights require a minimum of 4.5 hours of effective sunlight to generate electricity and are equipped with Deep Cycle batteries, allowing them to operate for at least two days even during cloudy or rainy conditions.
"The success of this project will not be measured solely by its physical completion, but also by its ability to reduce accident risks and save lives," he added.
