Perak Mb Urges Full Reconstruction Of East West Highway Under 13mp

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 Saarani Mohamad says patchwork repairs of the ageing expressway are no longer suitable.
Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said he had raised the question of the reconstruction of the East-West Highway with the prime minister. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad has urged the federal government to consider a complete reconstruction of the East-West Highway under the 13th Malaysia Plan
Saarani said patchwork repairs of the ageing highway are no longer suitable, Berita Harian reported.
“Instead of merely patching up damaged sections, the federal government, through the public works department (JKR), should consider a full reconstruction and comprehensive upgrade of the highway.
“The structure of the highway is outdated, and in several areas, the damage has reached the subbase. Simple repairs are no longer sufficient,” he told reporters after closing the 2025 National Training Week event at the Ipoh Convention Centre today.
He said he had raised the matter with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to Manjung on June 15.
“He acknowledged our concerns but pointed out the high cost involved. Nevertheless, the state government has made its position clear,” he said.
Asked whether the proposal would be included in the 13MP, Saarani said discussions are ongoing. “We are working to ensure that the project is included in the upcoming plan because this is a critical need,” he said.
On June 11, Saarani said a proposal to build a new highway or create an alternative route would be submitted to the federal government, following a rise in the number of accidents along the East-West Highway.
He also said the state government was seeking assistance from the health ministry to upgrade Gerik Hospital and its facilities, given the frequency and severity of road accidents along the highway.
“Many critically injured patients now have to be transferred to (the hospitals in) Taiping or Ipoh, and the journey there can take up to two hours. Such delays can be fatal,” he said.
Earlier this month, a bus crash on the East-West Highway in Gerik claimed the lives of 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris and injured 33 others. - FMT

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