East-West Highway upgrades a priority under Budget 2026, says Nanta
He said the ministry has submitted a funding request to upgrade several sections of the route, citing urgent safety needs. However, the exact allocation will depend on the government's final decision.
"It's not a special allocation, we've included it under regular funding requests for the highway," he told reporters after the official opening of the Sultan Muzzaffar Shah Bridge at Dataran Manong here on Thursday (Aug 14).
Earlier, Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah officially inaugurated the bridge. Also present were Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, his wife Datin Seri Aezer Zubin, as well as Public Works director-general Datuk Roslan Ismail.
As part of ongoing safety measures along the JRTB, Nanta said 385 solar-powered streetlights have been installed in high-risk areas and dangerous bends, commonly known as 'black spots'.
"These are not for the entire highway, only for critical sections identified through our assessments," he said, adding that damaged guardrails, signboards and road markings are also being repaired or replaced.
Nanta also announced the launch of the MYJalan mobile app, which aims to enable the public to report road damage and submit feedback directly to the ministry.
"Perak has been chosen as the first state to launch the MYJalan initiative, reflecting our commitment to public feedback and road safety," he said.
He added that the highway's condition had been a concern since the start of his tenure and described the highway as not only a vital interstate link but also a key part of the country's road development history.
Data collected via the app, he noted, has already supported federal funding requests, leading to repair and upgrade works along the East-West Highway and other federal roads in Perak. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
HPA Incentive, APEL.Q Continuation To Spur Civil Servants To Enhance Knowledge
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The introduction of the Academic Recognition Award (HPA) initiative and continuation of the APEL.Q @ INTAN initiative announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today will motivate civil servants to continue expanding their knowledge. Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) vice-chancellor Prof Dr Khairul Salleh Mohamed Sahari said the initiatives also provide civil servants with the opportunity to upgrade their qualifications within their respective services. 'When certain secretaries general hold the title 'Dr' after completing a doctorate (PhD), people recognise their reputation and credibility not only within the country but also abroad, reflecting the high calibre of Malaysia's civil servants. 'This will help elevate the country's image,' he said as a guest on Bernama TV's Malaysia Petang Ini programme via Zoom today. At the 20th edition of Majlis Amanat Perdana Perkhidmatan Awam (MAPPA XX) today, the Prime Minister announced the continuation of the APEL.Q @ INTAN initiative for 2026, with an allocation of RM1.5 million. This initiative will provide tuition fee assistance to civil servants of up to 50 per cent or a maximum of RM15,000, whichever is lower. Meanwhile, the HPA is a one-off financial incentive for civil servants who complete higher education at their own expense during their service. The incentive amounts are set at RM1,250 for a doctorate, RM1,000 for a master's degree, RM750 for a bachelor's degree, and RM500 for a diploma or equivalent qualifications. Khairul Salleh said APEL.Q offers flexibility to civil servants as the programme takes into account prior learning experience without requiring them to undertake an entire course of study. On strategies to identify talents among civil servants and ensure leadership continuity in an organisation, he said job rotation should be implemented to allow staff to hone their skills in specific areas. 'We need to implement job rotation so that incoming talents, even if they perform well in their area of expertise or interest, are also exposed to other areas. Without job rotation, we may be denying them opportunities and may not be able to fully develop their potential,' he said.
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
ATM Service Scheme Upgrades To Attract More Diploma Holders
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Improvements to the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) service scheme are set to attract more diploma holders by offering higher starting salaries and enhancing the overall quality of its personnel. Chief of Defence Force, General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, said the Public Service Department (JPA) will detail the new entry qualifications and starting salary adjustments in an official implementation letter, which will take effect from Jan 1, 2026. 'Out of the 21 proposed entry qualifications, seven have been approved. We are grateful to the Prime Minister for the MADANI government's commitment to enhancing the quality of public service,' Mohd Nizam told Bernama today. During the 20th edition of the Majlis Amanat Perdana Perkhidmatan Awam (MAPPA XX), the Prime Minister also announced the expansion of the entry qualifications for enlisted members of the armed forces at Grade Z1 (special duties) to include the Medical Corps, Religious Corps, and Engineering Corps. The Performance-Based Incentives (BIP) will be extended to other ranks, namely Sergeant Equivalent (Grade Z4) and Staff Sergeant Equivalent (Grade Z5), while the qualifying period for BIP has been reduced from six years to four years, benefiting 3,789 personnel with an estimated financial implication of RM6.47 million annually. On the BIP, Mohd Nizam said the incentive will be given as a monthly allowance, equivalent to one Annual Salary Increment (KGT) for the rank held. 'This extension benefits ATM personnel by considering the shorter service period (21 years) and limited promotion opportunities,' he said. Furthermore, Mohd Nizam highlighted that three proposed improvements to the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) for ATM remain under review. These include the reclassification of ATM grades and the alignment of Jusa C grades for Brigadier General-equivalent ranks based on length of service. 'The review also involves strengthening the criteria for allowance grants, revising eligibility conditions, and extending career development initiatives for ATM personnel,' he added.
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
CPO Futures Close Higher On Stronger Export Data
By Rosemarie Khoo Mohd Sani KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives (BMD) ended higher on Friday, buoyed by stronger export performance as outlined by cargo surveyors, said palm oil trader David Ng. According to cargo surveyors, Intertek Testing Services (ITS) and Amspec, exports for the first half of August rose by 16 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively, compared with the same period in July. However, Ng said the expectation of rising output in the coming weeks is weighing down on sentiments. 'We see prices supported at RM4,380 per tonne and resistance at RM4,500 per tonne,' he said to Bernama. Meanwhile, Mumbai-based Sunvin Group commodity research head Anilkumar Bagani noted that Malaysia's strong August palm oil export, along with a resurgence in Chinese demand, has supported palm oil prices today, despite the bearish overnight soybean oil market on the Chicago Board of Trade. At the close, spot-month August 2025 was unchanged at RM4,338 per tonne, September 2025 rose RM67 to RM4,425 per tonne, and October 2025 increased RM69 to RM4,472 per tonne. The November 2025 contract rose by RM75 to RM4,511 per tonne, December 2025 expanded by RM78 to RM4,528 per tonne, and January 2026 climbed RM75 to RM4,526 per tonne. Trading volume slid to 81,890 lots from 88,920 lots on Thursday, while open interest rose to 249,718 contracts from 244,194 contracts previously.
