29/04/2025

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Potholes reflect poor standards

o Expert attributes damaged roads to weak construction, substandard materials and inadequate

prematurely if they are not properly designed, constructed or maintained,” he said. Fauzan, who specialises in highway engineering and pavement materials, noted that frequent pothole formation is due to a combination of factors, including inconsistent material quality, low binder content, poor construction practices, water infiltration and the increasing load from heavy traffic. “Malaysia’s tropical climate, with its heavy rainfall and intense heat, further exacerbates the breakdown of asphalt surfaces. Rain and heat cycles gradually weaken the asphalt and if cracks aren’t sealed early, water seeps in, undermining the layers beneath and causing potholes and premature failures.” The dangers of potholes have tragically been highlighted by recent road accidents. Earlier this month, a teenager lost his life after hitting a pothole while riding his motorcycle along the Kuantan-Cherok Paloh road near Kampung Hijrah in Pahang. The impact caused him to lose control and be thrown onto the road. Similarly, last month in Kluang, Johor, two secondary school students were killed when their motorcycle struck a pothole, causing a skid that led to fatal head and body injuries. Fauzan identified inconsistent material quality as a major contributor to the persistent

pothole problem, noting that roads are sometimes built with substandard aggregates or bitumen lacking the durability needed. He also pointed out that compaction during construction often falls short of required standards. “Without strict monitoring and testing, roads quickly become vulnerable to early damage, putting lives at risk. It is critical that aggregates and bitumen meet specifications, and that stricter material inspections are enforced. Furthermore, construction must be closely supervised, especially regarding paving quality, layer thickness, compaction density and surface drainage.” While standard asphalt can work in Malaysia’s climate, Fauzan noted that conventional materials sometimes fail to offer adequate resistance to extreme heat and moisture. He advocated a shift towards modified asphalt, such as polymer-modified asphalt or other climate-adapted mixtures, to strengthen road durability. “Innovation in materials could be key to solving this issue. Research shows that incorporating polymers, fibres (such as those used in stone mastic asphalt) or even modified waste cooking oil can enhance asphalt’s flexibility, workability and moisture resistance.”

government’s commitment to comprehensive development, encompassing not only physical infrastructure but also social and economic progress, as well as human values.” In addition to the floating market, Roslan also announced that a night market would be introduced in the village as a micro-economy platform and community trading space. The Madani Adopted Village programme is part of the government’s efforts to ensure no community is left behind in national development, through its “One Leader, One Village”approach. – Bernama Selangor studying guidelines to make AED mandatory SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is studying guidelines and engaging with relevant parties to make the presence of automated external defibrillators (AED) mandatory in public spaces. State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the matter requires fine-tuning to ensure comprehensive outreach and effective education for the people of Selangor. “I believe there are some among us who are unfamiliar with what an AED is and more concerning is the possibility that they may not know how to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),” she said in a statement. “CPR is a vital emergency treatment we can perform to save lives, while AEDs complement CPR by improving the chances of survival,” she added. Jamaliah highlighted that since February, the state government has placed 56 AEDs across state government buildings, local authorities and subsidiaries, Bernama reported. She said the initiative aims to provide immediate emergency aid to the public in government premises. “The heart can stop beating at any time, affecting anyone, regardless of age, background or health condition,” she said. “Without meaningful reform, potholes will remain a dangerous, costly and frustrating blight for road users.” However, Fauzan stressed that the issues extend beyond construction alone. “Malaysia’s road maintenance strategies fall short. While long-term maintenance plans have been introduced, they are not consistently applied across all regions and road categories. Too often, maintenance is reactive rather than preventive, allowing minor issues to fester until they become major, costly problems.” He highlighted the need for roads to be engineered to accommodate rising traffic volumes and heavier loads. “Roads must be designed to withstand heavier and more frequent traffic loads with stronger asphalt mixtures, thicker pavement structures and high-performance materials such as polymer-modified asphalt. Better drainage design, stricter axle load controls and smarter maintenance strategies – such as regular pavement condition monitoring – are crucial to ensuring road sustainability as traffic demands rise.” Looking to the future, Fauzan believes that only by improving material quality, construction standards and maintenance management can Malaysia address its road durability issues.

maintenance Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Despite ongoing repairs and resurfacing efforts, potholes remain a persistent issue in Malaysia, posing significant risks to motorists and highlighting deep-rooted flaws in road construction and maintenance practices. Universiti Putra Malaysia Department of Civil Engineering head Assoc Prof Dr Fauzan Mohd Jakarni said the enduring pothole problem stems from poor material quality, construction flaws and inadequate maintenance planning. “Malaysia’s roads are primarily built using flexible asphalt pavement, composed of hot mix asphalt – a blend of bitumen and crushed aggregates that forms the main structural material. “However, even the best materials can fail Cement plant to address shortage, lower prices KOTA KINABALU: The construction of a cement plant in Kampung Kayawoi near Tongod is expected to resolve the cement shortage faced by developers in Sabah once it becomes operational. Borneo Cement Sabah chairman Datuk Masiung Banah said developers and contractors have often had to queue and place orders up to two weeks in advance to secure cement supplies. He said the plant is anticipated to produce at least 5,000 tonnes of cement per day, significantly reducing the state’s reliance on imports. “I expect the price of cement could decrease by about RM1 to RM2 per bag,” he said after the Sabah media Aidilfitri gathering on Sunday. Masiung added that completion of the plant is crucial for driving infrastructure development and boosting the local economy, with the creation of about 1,000 jobs for the surrounding community. He noted that the project has already received Environmental Impact Assessment approval and site clearing is currently under way, Bernama reported. Additionally, Masiung revealed that the Sabah Energy Commission has agreed to supply 40% of the plant’s electricity from Nabawan, while the investor has committed to building a 26km access road to the site.

Kampung Jerantut Feri chosen as Madani village KUANTAN: The Federal Territories Department has chosen Kampung Jerantut Feri in Jerantut as its Madani Adopted Village. TEAMWORK ... Participants in pairs during the “15th Blind Leading the Blind Annual Charity Walk 2025”, with one person blindfolded and the other acting as their “eyes” to cover a distance of 3km together. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

fry to 13 patin fish farmers,” the statement read. Despite these improvements, the department acknowledged that the village still requires further attention, including road maintenance, repairs to the community hall, installation of street lights, and the construction of a new multipurpose hall, futsal court and a playground. “The Village Development and Security Committee has helped identify locations for upgrades, repairs and maintenance of existing public facilities, ensuring that works can proceed promptly,” the statement added. – Bernama

In a statement, the department said the selection builds on the success of the Santuni Madani programme carried out in the village last year, which benefited approximately 4,000 residents. “Last year, we installed solar lights, repainted the mosque fence, provided school supplies for over 120 children from Tadika Perpaduan and Sekolah Kebangsaan Pedah, and distributed fish

Floating market to boost tourism in Kampung Labu Lanjut SEPANG: A floating market will soon be introduced in Kampung Labu Lanjut as part of a unique community tourism initiative aimed at attracting both domestic and international tourists, with the potential to boost the local economy. He noted that the village’s proximity to KL International Airport (Terminals 1 and 2) would provide a strategic advantage in realising the floating market concept at the location. “Madani Adopted Village: Kampung Labu Lanjut” programme on Sunday, which was also attended by Datuk Dr Roslan Hussin, director-general of Akademi Kenegaraan Malaysia, which is under the Prime Minister’s Office .

“There is potential not only in Sepang but possibly in the future for floating markets in northern Selangor as well,”he said. “Places such as Sabak Bernam, with its rivers in Sekinchan and other areas, offer great possibilities. I am confident this initiative will have a positive economic impact locally.” Borhan was speaking after the launch of the

The floating market concept is one of three economic projects proposed by the village’s Village Development and Security Committee. Selangor Housing and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Borhan Aman Shah said the introduction of the floating market could enhance the state’s international profile.

In his speech, Roslan highlighted the significance of Kampung Labu Lanjut being selected as a Madani Adopted Village, marking the start of a grassroots development initiative. “The Madani government has allocated up to RM1 million for each village involved in this programme. This investment demonstrates the