RM20.3 Mln To Upgrade Jalan FT1157 Near Felda Nenering - Ahmad Maslan

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The government allocated RM20.33 million under the Finance Ministry's special fund for Felda areas to upgrade Federal Road FT1157 near Felda Nenering, Pengkalan Hulu, in Gerik.

Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the road is now fully resurfaced, improving connectivity for residents in border areas and Felda settlements.

He said this during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today in response to a supplementary question from Manndzri Nasib (BN-Tenggara) on special allocations and other projects carried out by the Public Works Department (JKR) in border areas.

Ahmad said other projects being implemented included upgrading the second Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok bridge to four lanes, the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, and the FR21 Federal Road from Serian to Tebedu to the Indonesian border.

“The latest initiative also includes a new road from Kalabakan to the Malaysia-Indonesia border area known as Simanggaris,” he added.

Responding to a supplementary question from Fathul Huzir Ayob (PN-Gerik) on the need to install additional solar-powered street lights along Federal Route FT1157 at the Malaysia-Thailand border in Gerik, Perak — a stretch previously linked to cross-border crime incidents, Ahmad said the Works Ministry (KKR) will review a proposal. 

He said it will involve installing 30 additional solar lights in 2026 at an estimated cost of RM300,000, subject to budget approval, adding that repair works worth RM150,000 on the existing lighting system, involving 35 lamp posts along the 23-kilometre route, were completed on June 30.

Ahmad said KKR places strong emphasis on road safety through infrastructure upgrading, including lighting installations at high-risk areas such as intersections, bends and bridges,” he said.

He said 50 such locations nationwide had been implemented at a total cost of RM5.5 million, while RM24.95 million has been allocated for 2025 to cover another 258 locations, including 26 sites in Perak worth RM2.6 million.

To another question on the need for a national standard operating procedure (SOP) for border road facilities, Ahmad said such roads fall under two categories: those managed by KKR and those under the National Security Council (MKN) through the Border Security and Development Programme (KESBAN).

He said roads under MKN involve physical security initiatives, including the newly approved RM1.5 billion border security wall in areas such as Tumpat, Tanah Merah and Padang Besar.

-- BERNAMA