Public Works Ministry spends entire RM2b road maintenance allocation, to seek more funds

The Works Ministry has fully utilized its RM2 billion road maintenance budget, and aims to request additional funds, Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan announced today. However, the ministry requires around RM4 billion per year to conduct repairs more extensively. "We spent all of the RM2 billion annually, we cannot keep it," Ahmad stated at a press conference following a ceremony for the CIDB Northern Region Contractor Convention 2026.

The ministry, its senior officials, and the Works Minister are scheduled to meet Finance Minister II later today to seek further financial support for road maintenance. This request includes funding to address damaged roads and enhance safety for road users. Ahmad emphasized the necessity of prioritizing accident-prone areas, or accident hotspots, due to insufficient funding to address every maintenance need nationwide.

"We understand that we cannot achieve everything we need," he said, adding that the ministry focuses on resurfacing works, road furniture maintenance, and lighting maintenance in these high-risk areas. While the Malaysian Highway Authority received 3,000 new highway lights this year, Ahmad acknowledged that lighting the entire highway network is not feasible.

He highlighted that road conditions contribute to only 13% of accidents, with human negligence accounting for 81%, vehicle-related issues for 7%, and other factors making up the remainder. Ahmad also introduced the Tuju application, developed by the ministry through the Malaysian Highway Authority, which provides real-time traffic information, navigation services, and features for lodging complaints about damaged roads.