30/09/2026

WEDNESDAY | SEPT 30, 2026

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Ahmad said smart highways are not merely about modernising infrastructure but about using technology to create safer and smoother journeys. – SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

Smart roads ahead

KUALA LUMPUR: Highways in Malaysia are entering a new phase, with technology, smarter traffic management and improved infrastructure being deployed to make journeys safer, smoother and more efficient for millions of motorists. Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan said the country now has a 2,151km highway network spanning 34 routes and operated by 28 concessionaires. About six million vehicles use highways in Peninsular Malaysia daily, while approximately 200,000 vehicles travel on highways in Sabah and Sarawak. “In Peninsular Malaysia, people use the highways to commute to work, conduct business, send their children to school or return to their hometowns. “Therefore, the government, through the Works Ministry and the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA), is committed to continuously prioritising safety, comfort and maintenance across the highway network so that the people can continue to benefit from it,” he said during a recent podcast session. Malaysia’s highway story began in March 1964, with toll collection introduced two years later on the 24km Tanjung Malim-Slim River Highway, which, according to Works Ministry data, was the first highway in Malaysia and Asia. The initial 50 sen toll was abolished in 1994 following the completion of the North-South Expressway. The Federal Highway, constructed in 1974 and fully completed in 1977, marked the beginning of the country’s expansion into controlled-access highways, where entry and exit are regulated through designated points to ensure safety and smoother traffic flow. The sector subsequently expanded rapidly, particularly after the North-South Expressway (NSE) was completed and opened to traffic. Highway operations were also gradually transferred from the Public Works Department (PWD) to private companies under the privatisation policy from the 1980s. Today, highways connect villages, towns, industrial areas and major destinations nationwide, while urban and intercity routes play increasingly important roles in supporting mobility and economic activity. Ahmad said urban highways helped address

o AI, real-time monitoring and infrastructure upgrades in the works for safer, smoother and more efficient travel, says deputy minister congestion in metropolitan areas and shorten travel times, while intercity highways facilitated the movement of goods and logistics, stimulated social activities and supported economic growth. In Sarawak, the completed Pan Borneo Highway serves as a key link between towns and districts. In Sabah, five of its 35 work packages have been completed, with the project targeted for full completion by 2030. “The Pan Borneo Highway project in Sabah, meanwhile, is still under construction, with five of the 35 work packages completed. The project is targeted for full completion by 2030,” said Ahmad, Bernama reported. Motorists using both highways are not required to pay tolls, with the government previously deciding against tolls on the Pan Borneo highways in Sabah and Sarawak due to factors including the lack of alternative routes similar to those in Peninsular Malaysia. Ahmad said accidents could not be completely avoided but their impact on traffic flow could be reduced through preventive measures, continuous maintenance and faster incident response. “For incident management on the ground, every highway is also required to have an Emergency Response Plan (ERP), issued by MHA, as a standard reference for concessionaires,” he explained. MHA and concessionaires have patrol teams on standby to remove vehicles involved in accidents, while contra-flow lanes can be

faster decision-making and improve incident detection and response. “ITS play an important role through various components, including smart CCTV, automated vehicle and incident detection systems, electronic message displays, weight in-motion (WIM) systems, smart traffic lights and smart LED street lighting. “These technologies will be coordinated and connected to MHA’s traffic management centre to help manage traffic flow more efficiently, continuously monitor highway conditions and enable incidents to be identified and addressed more quickly.” Digital toll payment systems and real-time communication are also being expanded to make transactions faster and provide motorists with timely information on traffic conditions, accidents, lane closures and maintenance works. “Recently, MHA and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen telecommunications coverage along highways. “This cooperation is an important step because the highways of the future must not only provide safe and efficient journeys, but also ensure that users have continuous access to stable communication networks.” Looking ahead, the government and concessionaires aim to introduce the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) system which is a barrier-free toll payment system designed to improve traffic flow. Ahmad said implementation would adopt a business-to-business approach, with concessionaires appointing service providers without imposing financial implications on the government. “According to the plan, MLFF will be implemented in stages, beginning with the single lane fast flow (SLFF) system in 2027, following the finalisation of the necessary amendments to the relevant acts and legislation.”

opened when overturned or obstructing vehicles block an entire highway. In cases where vehicle removal is expected to take longer and a contra-flow cannot be activated, a mandatory-exit procedure directs motorists to nearby federal or state roads through the nearest interchange. Technology is also playing a growing role. The MHA Traffic Management Centre monitors traffic around the clock through 873 CCTV cameras and 278 variable message sign (VMS) displays. “Users can also obtain the latest traffic information through MHA’s official accounts on X, TikTok and Facebook, as well as digital applications such as TuJu, to check traffic conditions and plan their journeys more effectively.” The government and concessionaires spend RM2.7 billion annually on operating and maintaining the highway network, Ahmad said. From January to March 2026, contracts worth RM5.18 billion were awarded to Bumiputera contractors, involving 1,286 contractors. Among major projects under way are the Juru-Sungai Dua Traffic Dispersal Project and additional lanes on the North-South Expressway from Yong Peng (North) to Senai (North), aimed at increasing capacity and easing congestion. MHA is also installing 3,000 solar-powered LED lights along the NSE, Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, East Coast Expressway and Seremban-Port Dickson Expressway, with completion expected by year-end. Under the Bitara Madani initiative, 571 motorcycle shelters are already operational nationwide as of 2025, with 15 more targeted this year to provide safer refuge during heavy rain. Ahmad said smart highways are not merely about modernising infrastructure but using technology to create safer, more comfortable and smoother journeys. Artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are being adopted to analyse traffic information, support