Malaysia Calls For Regional Collaboration On Climate-resilient Roads – Nanta

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia today called for stronger regional partnerships in technology sharing, capacity building and smart mobility solutions among member nations of the Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia (REAAA), as part of collective efforts to strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure across the region.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, who represented Malaysia at the 17th REAAA Conference 2025 in Goyang, Korea, said sustainable and resilient road infrastructure must now be treated as a shared regional responsibility.

“We face common challenges, including climate change, rising costs and ageing assets. It is through collaboration and knowledge exchange that we can build infrastructure that not only connects nations but protects lives and livelihoods,” he said in a statement today.

Delivering his keynote address titled Paving the Future – Sustainable and Resilient Roads in a Climate-Challenged Era, Nanta outlined Malaysia’s national strategies to embed sustainability, innovation and inclusivity across the road sector, guided by frameworks such as the National Construction Policy (NCP) 2030, National Energy Transition Roadmap and Green Technology Master Plan.

Nanta said the ministry is also leading a 10-year initiative to transform the maintenance sector into a structured, high-value industry through the National Infrastructure and Asset Maintenance Policy, which is currently being developed and expected to be launched in 2027.

The policy introduces a comprehensive framework for sustainable and climate-resilient maintenance, integrating preventive measures, new materials, improved drainage, slope protection and technology-based monitoring to address the impacts of climate change on roads.

He said the ministry also plans to establish a Centre of Excellence for Infrastructure Maintenance to strengthen training, certification and research and development (R&D) standards in line with this vision.

Highlighting Malaysia’s success in citizen-driven innovation, Nanta said the MYJalan mobile app has become a powerful platform empowering the public to participate in road maintenance.

Since its launch in August 2023, the app has received more than 42,600 complaints nationwide, with 96.7 per cent of cases under the ministry’s jurisdiction successfully resolved.

Meanwhile, Nanta stressed the need for governments to invest in data and predictive maintenance systems and to encourage cross-border research and joint projects in green materials and smart mobility infrastructure.

The REAAA Conference 2025, themed Innovating Road Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future, gathered more than 1,000 delegates from 30 countries, including ministers, road authorities and industry experts.

The event serves as a premier platform to exchange ideas on innovation, sustainability and the digital transformation of transport networks.

-- BERNAMA