a day ago
Potholes pose danger
Sabah roads make up majority of over 100,000 instances reported
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian motorists travelling on federal roads are facing danger lurking under their wheels: potholes.
In 2023 alone, over 48,000 potholes were reported on federal roads nationwide. By last year, the number had jumped by 15%, with a staggering 55,863 reports filed.
According to figures provided by the Works Ministry, Sabah has the highest number of reported potholes on federal roads across both years, with a whopping 73,407 potholes making up 70% of the total reported (104,204).
In 2023, there were 29,918 potholes reported in the state, with the number swelling to 43,489 last year.
Sarawak had the second highest number of reported potholes across both 2023 and 2024 (13,001), followed by Labuan (7,882), Selangor (3,212) and Pahang (2,043).
From January to April this year, a total of 17,921 potholes were reported, with the highest number in Sabah (13,142), followed by Sarawak (3,072) and Selangor (519).
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'All reported potholes have since been resolved,' the Works Ministry said.
In 2024, all states also recorded a decrease in reported potholes except for Sabah, Sarawak, Kedah and Negri Sembilan.
Labuan recorded the sharpest decrease across both years with 1,834 potholes reported in 2024 compared to 6,048 in 2023.
The ministry clarified that roads in Malaysia have different operators who are responsible for not only building but overseeing their maintenance, including potholes.
'The Works Ministry is only responsible for federal roads,' it said.
It said state-owned roads are indicated with a letter, similar to that of car registration plates.
For example, if there is a code 'B' indicated on a road sign, it means the road belongs to Selangor, while it is 'J' for Johor-owned roads.
'There are also roads in townships that are under the jurisdiction of municipal councils. Most roads in residential areas are under the purview of local councils, which are responsible for their maintenance as well,' it said.
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For pothole repairs and maintenance, the ministry said it has its own service level agreements for maintenance concessionaire companies to adhere to.
'Repairs must be carried out within 24 hours once a completed report is received,' it said.
Upon receiving the report, a Works Ministry helpdesk will filter the complaints to determine the type of roads.
'If it is not a federal road, the ministry will forward the complaint to the road owners for action to be taken,' the ministry said.
'It is also important for road users to submit a complete report to facilitate quick action.
'They are also encouraged to use the MyJalan app to submit complaints,' it added.
The ministry said they also collaborate with industry players to explore new methods and materials for road paving technologies.
'Studies and the use of new technologies in the implementation of road paving work, such as the use of rubber, fibre and polymers, have also been intensified to increase the lifespan of roads,' it said.
According to the Works Ministry website, there are two ways potholes can be patched: either through temporary patches or fixed patches.
For temporary patches, it will be performed using a cold mix without requiring a pavement on top.
For fixed patches, the process uses a hot mix that is produced by a company recognised by the Public Works Department.
