Ahmad Maslan Chides Opposition For Making Demands Despite Rejecting Budget 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan delivered a pointed reminder to opposition MPs, noting that while they continue to request various development allocations for their constituencies, they have refused to support Budget 2026.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (PN-Mersing) on the ministry’s plans to upgrade roads, including a proposed extension of the Senai-Desaru Expressway to Mersing and the East Coast Expressway 4 (LPT4) from Pekan to Mersing, as well as the latest status of the Mersing bypass project.

“Mersing is an opposition constituency, yet their requests are endless. Just yesterday, these opposition MPs did not even support the budget, but they still submitted a long list of demands.

“Why didn’t they support it yesterday? Yet today they’re asking for this and that… Yesterday’s budget was for the people, but they still refused to support it,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat.

Yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026 at the policy stage through bloc voting, with 120 Members of Parliament in favour, 67 against, and 35 absent.

Meanwhile, Ahmad said the Works Ministry is continuously upgrading highways and major roads in Johor in preparation for the implementation of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which is expected to stimulate economic growth and increase traffic flow in the area.

He said there are nine prime zones under the JS-SEZ, designed to ensure seamless infrastructure connectivity through an integrated network of bridges, highways, and ports.

According to Ahmad, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance and the Works Ministry have approved several projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) including the construction of additional lanes on the North-South Expressway (PLUS) from Yong Peng Utara to Senai Utara (Phase 1), and the upgrading of the Pasir Gudang Highway from four to six lanes, spanning from the Perling Interchange to the PLUS access ramp.

He added that several new projects were also approved under Rolling Plan 1 of the 13MP to support the development of the JS-SEZ. These include preliminary works to upgrade Jalan Parit Panjang from Pekan Air Baloi, Pontian, to the Sedenak Toll Interchange, as well as the upgrading of the Senai-Desaru Expressway from the Sungai Johor Bridge to Desaru.

Ahmad was responding to Muhammad Islahuddin’s original question on the ministry’s readiness to upgrade major highways and roads in Johor, which are increasingly congested due to rising vehicle numbers and rapid development in Iskandar Malaysia, particularly ahead of the JS-SEZ implementation.

-- BERNAMA