Latest news with #MinistryofWorks
The Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Phased repairs for hazardous roads to prioritise critical sections
KUALA LUMPUR: The process of repairing hazardous roads across the country will be carried out in stages, with priority given to sections with critical damage, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. He said the Ministry of Works (KKR) has identified nearly RM4 billion worth of repairs needed to address all hazardous roads. However, due to financial constraints, the improvements will be implemented in phases. 'We already have complete data on the dangerous roads and the financial requirements. If we were to repair them all at once, we would need RM4 billion. Since we don't have that allocation, we have to do it in stages,' he told reporters after attending the Gawai Open House @ KKR 2025, held here today. He was responding to questions regarding efforts by the ministry to identify and repair damaged roads following the tragic accident along the Gerik–Jeli stretch of the East–West Highway (JRTB) on June 9, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students. Nanta said improvements to the JRTB have already been planned this year, involving an allocation of RM55 million. The upgrades include the installation of 385 streetlights and road line markings to improve visibility and safety. He added that the ministry had already identified roads in the worst condition through its existing database, with repair works to be carried out based on urgency. 'We know which roads are severely damaged, and we will prioritise those. Roads that are damaged but not critically will be attended to later,' he said. To support the decision-making process, the ministry is also using the Pavement Condition Assessment (PCA) method to determine areas that need immediate attention. For the JRTB Gerik–Jeli route, the PCA was conducted from March 13 to May 13, using advanced technologies such as the Multi Laser Profiler (MLP) and Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) Commenting on suggestions to install guardrails at high-risk locations, Nanta said the ministry is open to public feedback, including views shared online. 'We take into account all views — from the public, netizens, and relevant stakeholders. We will evaluate every suggestion carefully,' he said. The Gawai Open House @ KKR 2025 held at Dewan Tan Sri Mahfoz Khalid, was attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, as well as senior ministry officials and staff.
Barnama
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Barnama
Phased Repairs For Hazardous Roads To Prioritise Critical Sections
KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- The process of repairing hazardous roads across the country will be carried out in stages, with priority given to sections with critical damage, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. He said the Ministry of Works (KKR) has identified nearly RM4 billion worth of repairs needed to address all hazardous roads. However, due to financial constraints, the improvements will be implemented in phases. 'We already have complete data on the dangerous roads and the financial requirements. If we were to repair them all at once, we would need RM4 billion. Since we don't have that allocation, we have to do it in stages,' he told reporters after attending the Gawai Open House @ KKR 2025, held here today. He was responding to questions regarding efforts by the ministry to identify and repair damaged roads following the tragic accident along the Gerik–Jeli stretch of the East–West Highway (JRTB) on June 9, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students. Nanta said improvements to the JRTB have already been planned this year, involving an allocation of RM55 million. The upgrades include the installation of 385 streetlights and road line markings to improve visibility and safety. He added that the ministry had already identified roads in the worst condition through its existing database, with repair works to be carried out based on urgency. 'We know which roads are severely damaged, and we will prioritise those. Roads that are damaged but not critically will be attended to later,' he said. To support the decision-making process, the ministry is also using the Pavement Condition Assessment (PCA) method to determine areas that need immediate attention. For the JRTB Gerik–Jeli route, the PCA was conducted from March 13 to May 13, using advanced technologies such as the Multi Laser Profiler (MLP) and Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) Commenting on suggestions to install guardrails at high-risk locations, Nanta said the ministry is open to public feedback, including views shared online.
Newsroom
7 days ago
- Science
- Newsroom
Chasing the ever decreasing numbers of butterflies
On a mid summer day in the snow tussock grasslands of the rugged Lammermoor Range in Otago more than 40 years ago, butterfly scientist Brian Patrick made the most memorable discovery of his career. Six new species of native moths. Despite more than 5,000 butterfly hunting expeditions the entomologist immediately recalls that day as the most special. 'Twenty third of February, 1983,' he says. Butterfly scientist Brian Patrick holding a monarch butterfly he found. Photo: Alex Harmer/ RNZ 'My brother-in-law worked for the Ministry of Works hydrology department and he saw the wonderful snowbanks and wonderful herb fields and snow tussock grasslands of the Lammermoor Range, inland from Dunedin.' The four-wheel drive up there was a revelation. 'They were just flying around in the daytime,' says Patrick, who has written a book with his son Hamish called Butterflies of the South Pacific. He's been back to the Lammermoor Range 30 times since. 'There are lepidoptera that are hatching for the first time in the season right through in late April early May. We have a lot of early winter emerging lepidoptera in New Zealand across many different families of moths and butterflies.' In contrast to that plentiful February day, Patrick says 2025 has been a 'poorer year than normal for all our moths and butterflies'. 'Whether it relates to temperature or environmental conditions or something else we don't know.' He says it is not worrying. Yet. 'Climate and all those things are dynamic. We need to see a pattern. One year doesn't tell the story necessarily.' But Jacqui Knight of Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand is worried that there's not one butterfly in her suburban Auckland garden. That's partly because it is cold and wet but even in the trees in a nearby park where monarchs have overwintered in previous years none can be found. Jacqui Knight from Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand in her garden. Photo: Sharon Brettkelly She says there could be several factors behind the poor season, including exotic wasps and diseases. 'With all the people that are working towards saving the monarch in New Zealand by using butterfly houses and caterpillar castles to raise them and release them it's just incredible that the numbers are not increasing,' says Knight. The monarch is not endemic to New Zealand but it is a native because it flew or blew here in the 1830s, she says. It is global, unlike Aotearoa's endemic species. 'Most of them, if they disappear, we will never get them back again. When a butterfly species in Britain is lost sometimes they've been able to go to other parts of Europe to find them. But New Zealand's lepodoptera species – that's butterflies and moths – 93 percent of them – only exist in New Zealand. 'We lose them, they're gone forever.' Knight says there is a lot to learn about lepidoptera but it is a battle to raise funds for further research and raise awareness about the need to protect them. Jacqui Knight from Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand uses a toothpick to place a small tracking sticker on a monarch butterfly. Photo: Sharon Brettkelly 'There's so many needs out there. That's the problem.' Brian Patrick says there are many reasons we should care about our own butterflies and moths. 'Aesthetically I'm in love with them. I just love their form, their antics. But they pollinate our flowers,' he says. 'So econologically they are really integral to our environment, let alone our crops, the food we eat and everything from our flowers and our gardens and our lawns. 'But just the diversity of them is important enough. It lifts me and I'm sure it lifts lots of people to see the diversity of nature out there every day.' Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
The Sun
12-06-2025
- The Sun
KKR preparing PCA report to facilitate maintenance, paving work on Gerik-Jeli JRTB
GERIK: The Ministry of Works (KKR) is in the midst of preparing a report on the Pavement Condition Assessment (PCA), which aims to facilitate maintenance and paving work on the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway (JRTB) slated to be carried out soon. Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the PCA involves the use of technologies such as multi laser profiler, falling weight deflectometer, dynamic cone penetrometer and trial pit. 'The PCA began on March 13 and was completed on May 13. We are doing this (PCA) according to the latest, modern and internationally applicable methods. 'However, all the facilities or methods used depend on the allocations given, especially in building and repairing roads,' he told reporters today after checking out the location of the June 9 tragic bus crash that claimed the lives of 15 students of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) at KM 53 of JRTB here. Nanta had previously announced that the crash location was among the sections along the highway that had been identified for upgrading work this year, with an allocation of RM55 million. The minister also said that various initiatives have been taken since 2023 to improve the Gerik-Jeli route, especially on the FT04 Federal Road. Nanta said funds totalling RM80 million were also allocated to cover 55 scopes of work under the Periodic Pavement Maintenance Programme, which aims to ensure that the route on the JRTB is in good condition. 'The Work Order approval will be issued when the scope of work is listed based on the recommendations from the PCA report,' he said. In addition, Nanta said that RM3,585,000 was allocated for the Street Light and Signal Light Maintenance Project involving the maintenance of traffic lights and the installation of solar lights along the JRTB, which will begin this July. He said that the installation of solar lights would also involve the location of the fatal bus tragedy. 'This project is currently in the procurement process by the Perak Public Works Department, and is expected to be completed by the end of October this year,' he said. The ministry also gives assurance that all the allocations provided would be used optimally to ensure that maintenance work at JRTB was carried out efficiently and effectively, he added.
The Sun
12-06-2025
- The Sun
KKR prepares PCA report to facilitate maintenance on JRTB highway
GERIK: The Ministry of Works (KKR) is in the midst of preparing a report on the Pavement Condition Assessment (PCA), which aims to facilitate maintenance and paving work on the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway (JRTB) slated to be carried out soon. Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the PCA involves the use of technologies such as multi laser profiler, falling weight deflectometer, dynamic cone penetrometer and trial pit. 'The PCA began on March 13 and was completed on May 13. We are doing this (PCA) according to the latest, modern and internationally applicable methods. 'However, all the facilities or methods used depend on the allocations given, especially in building and repairing roads,' he told reporters today after checking out the location of the June 9 tragic bus crash that claimed the lives of 15 students of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) at KM 53 of JRTB here. Nanta had previously announced that the crash location was among the sections along the highway that had been identified for upgrading work this year, with an allocation of RM55 million. The minister also said that various initiatives have been taken since 2023 to improve the Gerik-Jeli route, especially on the FT04 Federal Road. Nanta said funds totalling RM80 million were also allocated to cover 55 scopes of work under the Periodic Pavement Maintenance Programme, which aims to ensure that the route on the JRTB is in good condition. 'The Work Order approval will be issued when the scope of work is listed based on the recommendations from the PCA report,' he said. In addition, Nanta said that RM3,585,000 was allocated for the Street Light and Signal Light Maintenance Project involving the maintenance of traffic lights and the installation of solar lights along the JRTB, which will begin this July. He said that the installation of solar lights would also involve the location of the fatal bus tragedy. 'This project is currently in the procurement process by the Perak Public Works Department, and is expected to be completed by the end of October this year,' he said. The ministry also gives assurance that all the allocations provided would be used optimally to ensure that maintenance work at JRTB was carried out efficiently and effectively, he added.
