Road concessionaires must appoint external auditors under new rules to improve work quality and financial transparency, says Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi
PONTIAN: Road maintenance concessionaires will be required to appoint external auditors under new concession terms to ensure work quality and greater financial transparency.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the new condition aims to improve oversight, moving away from reliance on internal reports from the Public Works Department (JKR) and the concessionaires themselves.
“With this new requirement, we will no longer rely entirely on internal reports as before. This is an important improvement to ensure road quality truly meets standards after repair work is carried out,” he told reporters here.
He was speaking after a ground-breaking and project handover ceremony for the RM23.12 million Sungai Pontian Kecil Bridge project.
Nanta said a one-year interim period has been given to allow for a thorough selection and appointment process for new concessionaires.
The government, however, is adopting a sense of urgency to expedite the implementation of this requirement.
Separately, he said the upgrade and widening project for the Pontian Besar Bridge (FT005) is scheduled for completion in January 2029.
The RM38.04 million project, which began on 13 January, involves widening the bridge from two lanes to four lanes and upgrading existing intersections.
Its implementation is expected to smooth traffic flow and improve road user comfort and safety.
During the same event, the completed project to replace the FT005/053/50 Sungai Pontian Kecil Bridge was handed over.
The RM23.13 million project was an initiative under the Bridge Replacement Programme for Narrow and Dilapidated Axle Load Bridges in Johor.
It was carried out conventionally by JKR Malaysia, starting on 31 January 2022 and fully completed on 25 January 2026.
