BATU KAWAN: The Works Ministry hopes to receive the highest development allocation among ministries in Budget 2027, to enable more development and infrastructure maintenance projects to be carried out nationwide.
Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan said the ministry was currently gathering input from agencies under the ministry, including the Malaysian Highway Authority, Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia and Public Works Department (JKR), in preparation for Budget 2027.
He said the ministry had instructed its divisions and agencies to prepare their input last week before a meeting with Finance Minister II on Aug 28.
"I hope the ministry's development allocation can be increased from last year. We received about RM10bil in the previous budget, of which RM9bil was for development,” he told reporters after the Cultural Night Run (CNR 2026) at the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge here on Saturday (Aug 8).
The event attracted 5,000 participants, including 114 from 18 countries.
Meanwhile, Ahmad said his ministry, through the Malaysian Highway Authority, was strengthening efforts to develop smart highways through digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI), closed-circuit television (CCTV), smart lanes and the local navigation application TuJu.
He said TuJu, developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority, was Malaysia’s third navigation application after Waze and Google Maps, offering highway-specific information such as CCTV feeds, toll rates, rest and recreation (R&R) areas, emergency assistance and the latest traffic updates linked to the the Malaysian Highway Authority Traffic Control Centre.
"The the Malaysian Highway Authority Traffic Control Centre monitors hundreds of CCTV cameras across all 34 highways, including both bridges in Penang. TuJu is also linked to the ministry and MYJalan applications, allowing users to submit reports and complaints on road conditions,” he said.
Ahmad encouraged highway users to use TuJu for real-time traffic information to help them make better travel decisions, noting that Malaysia has 34 highways operated by 28 concessionaires, with a combined length of more than 2,000 kilometres, of which more than 1,000 kilometres are owned by PLUS Malaysia Berhad.
He said the implementation of Multi Lane Free Flow, which enables toll collection without vehicles stopping at toll plazas, was still at the proof-of-concept stage and would be implemented through business-to-business (B2B) arrangements between concessionaires without government funding.
"The 28 concessionaires operating the 34 highways can choose either their own subsidiaries or external companies to provide the service. We have already started, with JustGo being used by PLUS as part of the Multi Lane Free Flow initiative,” he said. — Bernama
