RMK-12: Highway development to be reviewed – reasonable toll rates for rakyat, fair investor returns

RMK-12: Highway development to be reviewed – reasonable toll rates for rakyat, fair investor returns

In the 12th Malaysia Plan, or Rancangan Malaysia Ke-12 (RMK-12) as presented by prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the Malaysian government outlined its plans for the restructuring of the highway development model.

According to the Plan, this restructuring is aimed at reducing the risk to the government while enabling concessionaires to carry out operations and maintenance of the highway, while enabling the generation of fair returns from toll fare collection.

Formulated last year, the Highway Network Development Plan 2030 (HNDP 2030) was devised for the provision of “a comprehensive and systematic masterplan” for the upgrading and development of new roads, and this masterplan conceived as a reference for development on federal, state and local levels.

RMK-12: Highway development to be reviewed – reasonable toll rates for rakyat, fair investor returns

LPT 2 highway

The government will also explore options in order to ensure the viability of existing highway projects, the Plan stated. HNDP 2030 will also have provision for “a mechanism for prioritising new highways and available funding options,” it continued.

The 12th Malaysia Plan also provided a brief progress report for ongoing highway developments in the country. For the central to east coast regions of the Peninsula, Central Spine Road (CSR) connecting Bentong, Pahang and Kuala Krai, Kelantan was at 58.2% completion as of the end of 2020, and the construction of the remaining CSR alignment is expected to be complete by 2025.

Construction of the Kota Bharu – Kuala Krai (KBKK) highway in Kelantan is also being carried out in phases, with two out of eight sub-packages from Pasir Hor to Ketereh completed in 2019. Work progress on the KBKK was at 38% as of the end of 2020, with the remaining alignment from Ketereh to Kuala Krai expected to reach completion by 2025.

RMK-12: Highway development to be reviewed – reasonable toll rates for rakyat, fair investor returns

Preliminary works on the Lebuhraya Pantai Timur 3 (LPT 3) commenced in 2020, with completion expected in the second quarter of 2022, according to RMK-12. The LPT 3 will connect Gemuruh, Terengganu to Tok Bali, Kelantan.

For East Malaysia, work progress on the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway was at 44% at the end of 2020, and a further 281 km of the highway is expected be to complete by 2024. Meanwhile, the Pan Borneo Sarawak Highway from Telok Melano to Miri was at 59.4% completion as of the end of 2020, and is expected to be ready by 2022.

For the Greater Klang Valley, five highways are under construction; these are the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE), Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH), East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE), Setiawangsa-Pantai Expressway (SPE) and Putrajaya-KLIA Expressway (MEX 2). All are scheduled for completion Q4 2021. Meanwhile, the West Coast Expressway (WCE) from Banting, Selangor to Taiping, Perak is expected to reach completion by 2024.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • North south highway no upgrading works? KL-ipoh should be 6 lanes. Same as jb to kluang and sg petani to sg dua in prai.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
    • KYspeaks on Sep 28, 2021 at 10:52 am

      KL-Ipoh should be served by WCE as an alternate when it’s completed.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • tan32 on Sep 28, 2021 at 1:03 pm

      from Juru to Sg Dua, need an overhead 6 lanes bypass highway to minimize current bottleneck

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Andrekua on Sep 28, 2021 at 12:49 am

    Reasonable? Guys, prepared yourself for a toll hike right after GE15.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • Call me by your name on Sep 28, 2021 at 9:07 am

    MEX 2 scheduled for completion Q4 2021?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Bieight on Sep 28, 2021 at 11:18 am

    If the government is serious about increasing public transport usage they should raise the toll rate by at least 200%

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • David on Sep 28, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    Same old story

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • haihh on Sep 28, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    Haihhh enough with highways. More public transport.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Fair investor return? Since when? Thanks god if you do not force me to give ny hard earned money to others!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Calvin on Sep 29, 2021 at 3:27 pm

      Fair what. PLUS owned by EPF and EPF returns had been outstanding all these years.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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