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PONTIAN — Road maintenance concessionaires will be required to appoint external auditors under new concession terms aimed at improving work quality and strengthening financial transparency, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (picture).

He said previous concession terms did not provide for an independent monitoring mechanism beyond oversight by the Public Works Department (JKR) and the concessionaires themselves.

“With this new requirement, we will no longer rely solely on internal reports. This is a significant improvement to ensure that road quality truly meets the required standards,” he told reporters here.

Nanta said a one-year interim period has been provided to facilitate the selection and appointment process, adding that the government is moving with urgency to implement the measure.

He was speaking at a press conference after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony and handover of the completed Sungai Pontian Kecil Bridge project, valued at RM23.12 million. Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan and Public Works director-general Datuk Seri Roslan Ismail were also present. 

Meanwhile, Nanta said the Pontian Besar Bridge Upgrading and Widening Project (FT005), which began on Jan 13, is expected to be completed in January 2029 with a cost of RM38.04 million.

The project involves widening the bridge from two lanes to four lanes and upgrading the existing intersection to improve traffic flow, safety and user comfort.

At the same event, the FT005/053/50 Sungai Pontian Kecil Bridge Replacement Project was officially handed over.

The RM23.13 million project is part of the Narrow and Ageing Axle Load Bridge Replacement Programme in Johor under Rolling Plan 4 of the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP). Implemented in-house by JKR, it commenced on Jan 31, 2022 and was completed on Jan 25, 2026. — BERNAMA

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SEPANG — Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 (KLIA 1) today began implementing a green lane concept for international passengers to speed up the process of clearing travellers and to reduce congestion, particularly in the baggage claim area.

The initiative is carried out by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS). The facility allows passengers without luggage to declare to proceed directly to the arrival hall, thereby shortening waiting times.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that in addition to the two green lanes, a red lane is also provided for passengers carrying goods that need to be declared for inspection and duty payment.

“Previously, all passengers would go through a single lane, and sometimes customs officers would require baggage to pass through scanners. We found that this caused some delays, resulting in long and congested lanes.

“After several discussions between MAHB, AKPS and customs, all parties agreed to introduce a concept that had been implemented previously, but this time improved to include three lanes,” he said after inspecting the green lane implementation at KLIA T1 today. 

Loke, however, stressed that the implementation of the green lane does not compromise national security.

“I want to emphasise that this does not in any way compromise national security. Even with the green lane, AKPS officers or personnel can still stop or inspect passengers,” he said.

He explained that passenger movement has so far been smoother and more convenient, in line with Visit Malaysia 2026, which is expected to see an increase in tourist arrivals.

The green lane will be implemented as a one-month pilot project until Feb 26 to assess the system’s effectiveness before the standard operating procedures are finalised.

According to Loke, if successful, the concept will be extended to KLIA Terminal 2 and other international airports in Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang and Johor Bahru.

In addition, the initiative does not involve any increase in customs personnel.

“So we hope this initiative will further improve efficiency at KLIA T1. This is one of the enhancements we will continue to pursue. Over the past few months, we have seen that KLIA, under MAHB’s supervision, has implemented many initiatives to ensure smoother operations,” he said. — BERNAMA

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SHAH ALAM — The Selangor government will go all out to eradicate illegal waste dumping across the state this year through stricter enforcement, enhanced inter-agency coordination and special allocations to ensure a cleaner environment and improved quality of life for the people.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (picture) said the move was in response to public demand for faster government action and improved service delivery, particularly in matters related to cleanliness and solid waste management.

“The people are calling for quicker responses and better services. That is why I have instructed the Land Office and local authorities (PBTs) to focus on key issues, including cleanliness, and not only on matters such as potholes,” he said.

“We will ensure that there are no more illegal waste disposal sites in Selangor. I will take firm action and personally go to the ground together with local authorities and all relevant agencies,” he said in his 2026 New Year’s message at the Dewan Raja Muda Musa, Kompleks Belia dan Kebudayaan Selangor, here today.

Amirudin said the state government’s primary focus is to eradicate illegal waste dumping, which has had a negative impact on the people’s quality of life. He also stressed that waste management issues can no longer be resolved through inter-agency finger-pointing and require coordinated and decisive action. 

He also called for close cooperation among KDEB Waste Management (KDEBWM), local authorities and all relevant parties to ensure that enforcement actions are carried out collectively.

“That is why we will take firm action and demand full cooperation. Anyone found to be complicit or irresponsible, even if it involves a small number, will face strict action so that Selangor can be free from illegal waste dumping.

“We can no longer keep passing the blame. When there is a collection issue, it is said to be KDEB’s problem. KDEB then says it is the contractor’s problem, and the contractor blames the workers. How can we resolve the issue that way? This is a shared responsibility,” he said.

As a concrete measure, the state government also announced an allocation of RM10 million under the Kita Selangor 2026 Special Initiative for village cleaning and beautification programmes statewide this year, with a focus on villages facing issues related to inefficient waste collection.

“I want to ensure that this year, there will no longer be problems involving the accumulation of garbage in village areas that disrupt the landscape, including traditional villages, new villages and Indian communities located outside local council areas,” he said.

Amirudin added that the state government is also optimistic that through firm enforcement, comprehensive cooperation and the introduction of new facilities such as the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant, which is scheduled for completion in March 2026, Selangor will be able to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable environment for the well-being of the people.

Meanwhile, at a press conference, Amirudin said cleanup efforts would focus on hotspot areas frequently highlighted in public complaints, including locations in the Hulu Langat district as well as areas with homestay and chalet activities. — BERNAMA

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SHAH ALAM — The Selangor government has decided to call a halt to the proposed pig farming project in Bukit Tagar following public concern and objections, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said.

He said the decision was made while the state looks for alternative locations and holds discussions with livestock operators, as well as to clarify misunderstandings among stakeholders.

Amirudin said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had contacted him while he was overseas, noting that the issue had escalated beyond the actual facts.

“So we have decided to call a halt and temporarily shelve the project while exploring other site options or approaches,” he told reporters after delivering the 2026 New Year Address at Dewan Raja Muda Musa today.

Amirudin said that the State Executive Council (MMKN) had instructed the council member in charge of Infrastructure and Agriculture, Datuk Izham Hashim, to identify alternative sites for the project. 

The Menteri Besar said that the project was still at a preliminary stage, with no formal proposal paper or approval submitted, but public perception that it would proceed immediately had caused confusion, prompting the state government to adopt a more cautious approach.

“This issue became premature. Community engagement, social impact assessments and other processes should have been carried out first. We acknowledge there may have been announcements made ahead of proper procedures,” he said.

He also dismissed sarcastic claims that the Bukit Tagar project would resemble a “pig hotel,” stressing that the state government’s priority is to safeguard the interests of all parties fairly.

Amirudin said the government had no intention of developing a large-scale pig farming project as portrayed by some quarters.

“It is not mega, not large-scale. It may cover only about 20 to 30 per cent of the requirements. Claims of a ‘mega’ project are exaggerated,” he said, adding that the main objective was to reorganise scattered pig farms to better manage hygiene and environmental issues.

On Jan 10, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah expressed disappointment and disagreement with the state government’s plan to allow pig farming operations in Tanjong Sepat, Kuala Langat, starting this year before relocating them to Bukit Tagar in 2030.

Last Friday, the Prime Minister also suggested that the proposed project be put on hold or relocated to a more suitable site. — BERNAMA

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