Cabinet Approves Construction Of Gopeng Kuala Kangsar Expressway

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Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said the cost of the 60km West Ipoh Span Expressway will be borne under the private finance initiative.IPOH: The Perak government confirmed that the Cabinet yesterday approved the construction of the 60km West Ipoh Span Expressway (WISE) linking Gopeng with Kuala Kangsar.
Menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said the cost of the project will be fully borne under the private finance initiative.
“WISE is to resolve the traffic woes that occur on the North-South Expressway, especially when an accident occurs at the Menora Tunnel, as highway users have no alternative apart from the federal road in Sungai Siput.
“With WISE, motorists can use the alternative route from Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar to avoid congestion whenever there is an accident at the Menora Tunnel,” he told reporters after opening the Perak Economic Outlook 2024 programme at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan here today.
Saarani said the state will fully cooperate in the project’s implementation, including land acquisition by the lands and mines office.
He said Perak is optimistic that WISE’s opening will have a positive impact on the state, besides complementing the West Coast Expressway.
On Sept 16, Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) chairman Jalaluddin Alias said WISE’s construction is in the final negotiation stage, to be finalised by December.
Saarani also said the state government is proposing to develop a non-radioactive rare earth element (NR-REE) laboratory in Simpang Pulai here, subject to the approval of the natural resources and sustainability ministry.
He said the location is suitable because it is owned by Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc), one of the mandatory agencies for NR-REE project development in Perak.
“We have submitted to the ministry the application and paperwork related to the laboratory’s development. The laboratory will be shared between MB Inc, the Perak State Agricultural Development Corporation, and the Perak State Development Corporation,” he said. - FMT

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