Perak MB: New route needed as East–West Highway concession ends

New Straits Times

3 days ago

IPOH: Proposals to build a new highway or an alternative route to address the increasing frequency of accidents along the East-West Highway (JRTB) will be submitted to the federal government.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the highway's 40-year concession had expired, making it critical to review its alignment and overall condition.
"Earlier, I chaired the weekly exco meeting. We discussed at length the fact that this route runs partly through Kelantan and partly through Perak.
"We were informed that the highway's concession has actually expired — it was a 40-year concession that has reached its end and should be reviewed.
"We must remember that it was built during the time of the late Tun Razak (Tun Abdul Razak Hussein), and it was intended to curb the infiltration of communists from Thailand into Pahang," he said.
He told reporters this after closing Perak Export Day at Casuarina Hotel here, today.
The length of the JRTB is 123km, and it was constructed at a cost of RM205 million. It is one of the main routes connecting the western and eastern regions of Peninsular Malaysia (Perak and Kelantan states).
Its construction began in 1967 and it was opened to the public on July 1, 1982.
Saarani said that when JRTB was originally built, the circumstances were different, with no concrete and limited technology.
"It's time to review the alignment and the condition of the road itself. Some parts have already shown the foundation; the soil is exposed. You can't just patch it up — it must be looked at comprehensively," he said.
He said that during the exco meeting, state Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin and state Human Resources, Health and Indian Community Affairs Committee chairman A. Sivanesan were tasked with overseeing the matter.
"We asked Datuk Seri Nizar to prepare an exco paper and forward it to the federal government regarding the highway's infrastructure.
"Datuk Seri Nizar needs to prepare a list of what needs to be done, including the alignment, widening, construction materials, and everything related — such as street lighting," he said.
Saarani said he would also raise the matter personally with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the latter's visit to Lumut on Sunday.
"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously approved an allocation of RM30 million for repairs but acknowledged that the amount fell short of what was required to properly address the highway's needs.
"I believe the federal government will consider additional funding under the next Malaysia Plan," he said.
On Monday, the bus, carrying 42 UPSI students, was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus when it collided with a Perodua Alza at KM53 of the East-West Highway.
Thirteen students died at the scene while two others were pronounced dead in hospital.