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Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
JRTB overhaul, enhanced facilities proposed by Perak after UPSI bus crash kills 15 students
IPOH, June 12 — The Perak government will submit a proposal to the federal government to upgrade the East-West Highway (JRTB) linking Gerik and Jeli, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. He said the state government will also propose the development of a new alignment to replace the current route, which links Perak to the East Coast states. 'The matter (proposal to improve JRTB) was discussed during the state executive council meeting yesterday. 'I have asked Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (State Infrastructure, Energy, Water, and Public Transport Committee chairman) to prepare the proposal,' he said, adding that he would also propose the matter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his working visit to Lumut this Sunday. He spoke to reporters today after officiating the closing ceremony of Perak Export Day 2025, hosted by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, which was also attended by its chairman, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, here. Elaborating, Saarani said JRTB has been out of concession for the past 40 years, adding that it is high time to conduct a more thorough review of the route. 'Parts of the road have worn down to the base, exposing the soil. Patching is no longer an option. That's why we've asked Datuk Seri Nizar to outline what needs to be done in terms of alignment, road widening, construction materials, and all necessary elements, including street lighting and road markings,' he said. Meanwhile, Saarani said the state government will also propose the upgrading of Gerik Hospital, as well as increasing the number of related facilities and medical specialists along the route. 'In the event of a major incident, Gerik Hospital is insufficient to handle a large number of casualties. The federal government should also consider providing additional facilities such as mobile police stations or fire and rescue brigades along the JRTB route,' he said, adding that this is to ensure shorter response time. On Monday, 15 Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students were killed when a chartered bus travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, overturned after colliding with a multi-purpose vehicle on the highway. — Bernama
The Star
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
East-West Highway upgrade on the table, says Perak MB
Promising development: Saarani (centre) attending a Perak Export Day programme at a hotel in Ipoh. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star IPOH: The East-West Highway that connects Perak's Gerik with Kelantan's Jeli is in need of massive upgrades to improve its condition and safety, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. The Perak Mentri Besar said state infrastructure committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has been tasked with preparing a working paper detailing things required to improve the road. 'It's high time we look into the highway's alignment and condition,' he said in a press conference after opening Perak Export Day here yesterday. 'The highway was built during (Malaysia's second prime minister) Tun Abdul Razak Hussein's time to stop incursions by communists. 'Mohammad Nizar and the Public Works Department will need to review and list down the things needed to be done, be it to widen the road, the construction materials needed, lines on the road or street lights,' he said, adding that some stretches of the road could no longer be patched up. Fifteen Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students were killed after a bus crashed on the highway on Monday. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that the site of the tragedy was already earmarked for rehabilitation this year with an allocation of RM55mil. Saarani said a new hospital is also needed in Gerik to provide treatment to victims due to the high frequency of accidents on the highway. 'Gerik needs a new hospital as well as experts, staff and facilities. A separate paper will be prepared by state health committee A. Sivanesan on this,' he said, adding that both papers will be forwarded to the federal government for consideration to be included in the next Malaysia Plan. 'I will also speak to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on June 15 about the proposals to improve the situation near the highway,' he added.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Perak MB: Gerik Hospital needs urgent upgrade to handle East-West Highway accidents
IPOH: Gerik Hospital is in urgent need of an upgrade as it struggles to cope with the high number of accident victims from the East-West Highway, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said. He added that the hospital rePerak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad delivers his speech during the closing ceremony of the Perak Export Day event at Casuarina Hotel a new building, more specialists, and improved facilities. He said the matter was raised during today's state executive council meeting by State Women, Family Development, Community Welfare, Cooperatives and Entrepreneur Development Committee Chairman Datuk Salbiah Mohamed. "Salbiah pointed out that the frequent accidents in the Gerik area have made it critical for the hospital to be equipped with a new building, additional specialists, and upgraded facilities," he told reporters after closing the Perak Export Day event at Casuarina Hotel today. He said the state Human Resources, Health, Indian Community Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman A. Sivanesan will prepare a working paper on the matter. Saarani said that the state government will submit the proposal, as Gerik Hospital currently cannot cope with the increasing number of accident victims. "We also discussed the location of accidents along the highway, which is a long stretch. "If an accident occurs in the middle of the route, someone has to call the Gerik police station, and then the police and fire department must respond, which can take up to an hour. "With the high volume of traffic, accidents in the middle of the route can cause delays of up to three hours before victims reach the hospital," he said. According to the Perak Health Department website, Gerik Hospital was built in 1919 on an 3.23 hectare site at Jalan Intan. It began operating in 1957 and has since undergone several upgrades, including the construction of a new building completed in 1992. Gerik Hospital is the only government hospital providing medical services in the Hulu Perak district. 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.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Perak MB: New route needed as East–West Highway concession ends
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.
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Review needed for east-west highway after tragic accident, says Saarani
A thorough review of the East-West Highway or the Gerik-Jeli Road is needed to improve its condition, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. The Perak Mentri Besar stated that state infrastructure committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has been tasked with preparing a paper to outline the necessary improvements for the road. "It's high time we look into the alignment and the condition of the road. "The concession for the highway has long expired, for about 40 years," he said in a press conference after opening the Perak Export Day here on Wednesday (June 12). "The highway was built during (Malaysia's second prime minister) Tun Abdul Razak Hussein's time, to stop incursion by communists from Thailand," he said, adding that some stretches of the road could no longer be patched up. On June 9, some 15 individuals, including Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students, were killed after a bus lost control and flipped on its side on the highway. On Tuesday (June 10), Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi posted on Facebook that the site of the tragic accident was a key section set for rehabilitation in 2025, with an allocation of RM55mil. Saarani also said that a new hospital would be required in Gerik due to the high frequency of accidents on the highway. "A separate paper will be prepared by the state health committee A. Sivanesan on this," he said. "Both papers will be forwarded to the Federal Government for their consideration," he said, adding that he would also speak to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about the proposals required to improve the situation near the highway. He said that another suggestion brought up during the weekly state executive council meeting included having relevant mobile units situated in the middle stretch of the highway to provide faster assistance. "The road is long. "It would take about an hour to reach the middle stretch of the highway (from Gerik town) if an emergency is to occur there," he said, adding that accident victims could be stuck inside an ambulance on the road for up to three hours.
