Maintenance Work On Federal Roads In Sabah Based On Critical Damage Level – Ahmad Maslan

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Maintenance work on federal roads in Sabah will be carried out based on the critical level of damage identified through a comprehensive assessment, said Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

He said the assessment was important to ensure maintenance costs could be reduced in the long run.

“The Works Ministry (KKR) is always committed to ensuring that roads in Sabah are properly maintained according to the annual allocation that has been set aside. However, the ministry is also aware of the urgent financial and technical needs in some districts in Sabah.

"Therefore, efforts are being made to review and provide the necessary allocations so that every maintenance project currently underway and to be implemented can be completed on schedule," he said while winding up the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026 at the policy level for KKR in the Dewan Rakyat today.

At the same time, Ahmad said the government is adapting a new paving technology capable of improving the quality and durability of road surfaces to ensure a longer lifespan for road pavements.

He said the Sabah Public Works Department (JKR) will also identify the main routes in the state that require immediate attention, including pothole patching, installation of streetlights in high-risk areas and road safety signs.

Commenting on the bridge upgrading project connecting Rantau Panjang, Kelantan and Su-ngai Kolok, Narathiwat in Thailand, Ahmad said the project is currently at the tender document preparation stage between the two countries and is expected to be tendered in December.

Additionally, he said the East Coast Expressway Phase 3 (LPT3) project will be implemented through privatisation using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) method without involving government financial allocation.

Ahmad also said the project will be implemented via a competitive bidding process called Request For Proposal (RFP), with KKR having submitted the project's Statement of Needs (SON) documentation to the Public-Private Partnership Unit in the Prime Minister's Department  (UKAS, PMD) for review as preparation for the RFP bidding documents to the government.

"For the time being, the government's priority focus is to complete the Central Spine Road (CSR) and the Kota Bharu-Kuala Krai Expressway (KBKK) projects on schedule to improve the strategic network of connectivity that can directly benefit the people, especially in the East Coast states, including Kelantan," he added.

-- BERNAMA