WORKS Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi highlighted that the primary cause of road damage in Malaysia is the loading of heavy vehicles that exceed weight limits.
To address this issue, the Ministry of Works (KKR) and the Ministry of Transport (MOT) are currently in discussions through a special committee focusing on the problem of overloaded vehicles.
"Heavy vehicles are clearly one of the main causes of road damage... That’s why there are load limits in place, but there are still violations of these regulations.
“The Secretary-General and officials from both KKR and MOT are exploring solutions to address this issue," Nanta said to reporters after observing traffic conditions at the Sungai Buloh Rest Area (Northbound) on the North-South Expressway, in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
Nanta’s comments follow media reports that vehicles carrying loads exceeding 10 per cent of their allowable weight could reduce the lifespan of roads by as much as 50 per cent.
The minister also addressed the recent fatal accident in Kluang, Johor, which claimed the lives of two siblings, Norhazim Kamaruzaman, 17, and Nur Alif Ikhwan, 16.
They were killed after their motorcycle collided with a pothole on their way to school.
Nanta stated that he had met with the highway concessionaire in Melaka the previous Wednesday and instructed them to provide a detailed report on the incident.
"I met with the concessionaire’s representatives last Wednesday in Melaka and instructed them to expedite their report following the deaths of the two siblings, Norhazim and Nur Alif, who suffered severe head and body injuries," he said.
Meanwhile, Nanta reassured the public that agencies are fully prepared for the expected surge in traffic on all major highways during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period, which is expected to peak on Monday, April 1.
During his visit, Nanta was briefed by the Director-General of the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), Datuk Sazali Harun, and the Chief Operating Officer of PLUS Malaysia Berhad, Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi.
He also took the opportunity to interact with highway users and distribute Hari Raya cookies to those taking a rest at the rest area.
LLM has projected that traffic volume will rise to 2.77 million vehicles per day on major highways during the festive period, with 2.1 million of those on highways under the management of PLUS.
Other highways expected to see increased traffic include the KL-Karak Expressway (216,000 vehicles), the West Coast Expressway (176,000 vehicles), and both the East Coast Expressways (LPT1 and LPT2) with 156,000 and 70,000 vehicles respectively, reported Bernama.
The heavy traffic from the capital heading north, south, and east began on March 27 and is expected to continue through to Sunday, March 30. The return traffic is anticipated to peak between April 4 and April 6.
In a bid to alleviate the financial burden on road users, the government also announced a 50 per cent toll discount from 12:01 am on March 28 to 11:59 pm on March 29, as part of the Syawal festivities. The initiative is expected to result in a compensation payout of approximately RM19.69 million to the toll concession companies involved. – March 28, 2025
