KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry needs between RM5bil and RM6bil to maintain Malaysia’s federal roads, nearly double its current allocation of RM3bil, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The Deputy Works Minister said the funding shortfall had prevented the government from carrying out comprehensive road resurfacing works, leaving authorities to prioritise damaged stretches.
"We cannot resurface all the roads. Maintenance remains a problem year after year, and we can only resurface areas that are in poor condition," he told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 28).
He said the ministry hoped to secure additional funding to ensure road maintenance could be carried out more effectively.
Ahmad was responding to a supplementary question by Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai), who asked whether the government would consider a special allocation to address road surface quality nationwide.
In a separate response to Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong), Ahmad said the government had approved RM832,000 to install 83 solar-powered streetlights across nine locations in Bentong, Pahang, to improve road safety ahead of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) becoming operational.
“The allocation covers three locations in Sabai costing RM254,000, three in Bilut at RM300,000, one in Pelangai at RM61,000 and two in Ketari at RM177,000,” he said.
Ahmad said the ministry was also monitoring Bentong's road network in anticipation of increased traffic once the ECRL begins operations.
The assessment includes potential upgrades to federal and state roads to accommodate the expected rise in traffic.
