A lot of post-flood work for Works Ministry

KOTA TINGGI: More than RM113mil has been allocated by the Works Ministry to repair roads that were damaged during the recent northeast monsoon season that started in November last year.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the ministry has also made improvements to 81 federal routes and 48 slopes all over the country.

“We have approved RM113mil to repair 48 slopes and 81 federal routes that have been damaged during recent downpours.

“The slope repairs cost RM55.4mil while the road repairs cost RM57.6mil,” he said when met by reporters after conducting a working visit to a landslide at FT3 Jalan Johor Baru-Endau, near Johor’s Army Combat Training Centre (Pulada), here yesterday.

From the RM113mil, RM30.1mil has been allocated to Johor, RM34mil to Kelantan, RM28.3mil to Pahang, and RM11.3mil to Terengganu, he added.

Asked to comment whether repairs have started, Nanta said this will start once the weather has improved.

“This is based on what the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) forecast; the monsoon season is expected to continue until March, so we cannot conduct any physical development as it is still raining – it will affect our work, and we would not be able to provide the best impact,” he added.

Nanta also said for Johor, the ministry has approved RM7.6mil to upgrade roads in 51 locations and RM1.6mil to repair slopes in two locations.

“We have also received a request from the Johor government to elevate four roads in the state, which will cost around RM120mil,” he said, adding that his ministry is currently studying the request.

The ministry is also planning to take on two projects in Johor under the Fifth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan (MP12), he said.

“The projects are to elevate the road at Jalan Kota Tinggi-Mersing, which costs around RM6mil, and to replace the Sungai Semaloi Bridge in Endau, Mersing, which costs around RM30mil,” he said.