Better funding for projects under Marris

S’gor to prioritise constituencies with more roads

SELANGOR government is reviewing the method of distributing funds for repairs and upgrades under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) to prioritise constituencies with a larger network of roads.

State infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim said the current method was to allocate RM3mil per constituency.

“From this year, we are looking at centralising all allocations into a single fund and distributing aid based on needs, road conditions and length of roads.

“The matter is under discussion with the Mentri Besar and we are looking at implementing the new distribution method soon to ensure road repairs are better managed,” he said at the Selangor state assembly sitting in Shah Alam.

Izham acknowledged there was a need to review the allocation method as roads in some constituencies were upgraded yearly even when there was no urgent need, while other constituencies were struggling to maintain their more extensive road networks.

He was responding to a supplementary question raised by Michelle Ng Mei Sze (PH-Subang Jaya) who suggested a fairer fund distribution based on road length.

Marris is a Federal Government allocation channelled to selected government agencies such as local councils and state-level Public Works Department (JKR) for road repairs and upgrades.

“Selangor receives over RM500mil per year under Marris.

“Priority is given to registered roads, although there is leeway to repair as-yet unregistered roads,” said Izham.

“We are also allocating RM5mil yearly for the next four years to cover surveying works as we estimate there are about 4,000km of roads yet to be registered.”

To the original question raised by Leong Tuck Chee (PH-Panda-maran), Izham said the state did not plan to stick to only one road repair method as there were various factors that caused damage.

“The mill-and-pave method is applicable only for damaged road surfaces.

“It is not suitable for damage involving the underlying structure,” he said.