Works Ministry seeks bigger 2027 development budget to bolster infrastructure plans, says Ahmad Maslan

The Ministry of Works is requesting a larger allocation for the 2027 Budget in order to maintain and strengthen Malaysia's infrastructure development initiatives. Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan emphasised that KKR typically receives the highest development allocation among the 28 ministries, accounting for nearly 10% of the RM81 billion Development Expenditure (DE) budget in 2026.

Maslan expressed hope that KKR would retain its leading position in DE allocations for the upcoming year, acknowledging potential constraints faced by the Ministry of Finance, such as increasing subsidy costs. The discussion on this matter took place during a meeting between Maslan and Second Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan, as well as Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican.

The 13th Malaysian Road Conference and Exhibition 2026, along with the 6th International Road Federation Global Asia-Pacific Regional Congress, was inaugurated on the same day. Maslan highlighted that the conference would offer opportunities to highlight and advance local road engineering technology and innovation on the global stage.

The conference, themed "Transforming the Nation Through Future Ready Roads," is expected to draw 1,000 participants from Malaysia and abroad, with 100 technical paper presenters sharing their expertise in engineering technology and innovation. The event, set to be held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur from October 13 to 15, aligns with Malaysia's dedication to constructing resilient, sustainable, and future-oriented road infrastructure.