Boosting road connectivity in Peninsular Malaysia

By Sharen Kaur
Published in NST on March 6, 2014

SPURRING DEVELOPMENT: Road projects worth RM40b planned for Peninsular Malaysia

  ROAD projects worth about RM40 billion will be implemented in Peninsular Malaysia over the next three to four years to boost transport connectivity.

  These include proposals put forward by North-South Expressway (NSE) operator PLUS Expressway Bhd and Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd, said  Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) sources.

  PLUS is proposing a new toll road in Senawang, Negri Sembilan, that links the Kajang-Seremban Highway with the NSE.

  The project, estimated to cost RM2.5 billion, is aimed at cutting congestion on the NSE and boosting revenue from toll collection.

  Maju Expressway is looking to extend its  MEX highway to connect to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang. The project is expected to cost about RM1 billion.

   "We are evaluating all the proposals. Decisions will be made after a thorough study on their technical and financial capabilities. The roads will spur property development and investment," said a source.

   A 465.3km road  linking Kota Baru to Simpang Pelangi in Bentong, Pahang, worth RM8 billion, is also in the works.

   It has been reported that a joint venture between MMC Corporation Bhd and Mudajaya Group Bhd is the front-runner for the job.

   Other proposed road projects include Kuala Lumpur-Arah Serendah Expressway (KLAS), Jelapang-Selama-Batu Kawan  Expressway (Jelas), Sungai Juru-Batu Kawan Expressway, Johor Baru-Pasir Gudang Elevated Expressway and Port Dickson-Banting Expressway.

   Under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), seven highways worth about RM19 billion will be built to  improve traffic in Selangor.

   They include the West Coast Expressway (WCE), Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR), Damansara-Shah Alam Highway (DASH), Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Expressway (SUKE), Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) and Serdang-Kinrara-Putrajaya Expressway (SKIP).

   Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof told Business Times two months ago that the projects were in the planning stage.

  "They must  meet the condition precedent. We will look at technical capabilities and financial strength and go through public consultations for the road alignments before they can proceed."

  SUKE and DASH will be implemented by Projek Lintasan Kota Sdn Bhd and WCE by IJM Corporation Bhd.   Kidex will be undertaken by Kidex Sdn Bhd while Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd's unit, EKVE Sdn Bhd, will complete the RM1.5 billion KLORR.