No go for WISE highway construction until terms are met, says deputy minister

Free Malaysia Today

3 days ago

The construction of the WISE project, approved by the Cabinet in December 2023, is expected to reduce traffic congestion along the PLUS highway for the Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar route by up to 40%. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR : The developer of the West Ipoh Span Expressway (WISE) cannot begin construction of the project until it fulfils several conditions agreed on last September, deputy works minister Ahmad Maslan told the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said while the government had approved the project in principle, the concessionaire had yet to complete the conditions agreed upon.
The deadline for meeting the conditions is next month, with the possibility of a six-month extension, he said.
'They have to ensure that the requirements are met. They have to prove their source of income, get approval from local authorities, and submit the environmental, social and traffic impact assessments,' he said.
He was replying to Iskandar Dzulkarnain Khalid (PN-Kuala Kangsar), who had asked for updates on the project and the measures the ministry would take to ensure that the land acquisition process and initial construction works for the highway proceed without delay.
Ahmad said the proposed 60.88km highway, which will run from Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar and Padang Rengas in Perak, had a concession period of 55 years. Construction is estimated to cost RM4.5 billion and is expected to take four years once work begins.
As for land acquisition costs, he said they were estimated at RM618 million and involved 1,600 lots, which would be fully borne by the concessionaire.
He also said that resolving the land issue was crucial. 'The 1,600 lots have to be taken over. That is a challenge for them,' he said, adding that the works ministry and the Malaysian Highway Authority would facilitate the process.
While the ministry would continue monitoring the project, he said the onus was on the concessionaire to fully comply with the terms before construction begins.
'Once they have completed all of the requirements, they can start the project,' he said.
The construction of the WISE project, approved by the Cabinet in December 2023, is expected to reduce traffic congestion along the PLUS highway for the Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar route by up to 40%.