14/10/2026

WEDNESDAY | OCT 14, 2026

4

‘Ageing assets, climate hazards straining road network’

Influencers advised not to exploit 3R issues for content KUALA LUMPUR: Social media influencers have been reminded not to exploit issues involving race, religion and royalty (3R), particularly religious rituals, for online content, in the interest of preserving harmony in the country’s multiracial society. National Unity Deputy Minister R. Yuneswaran said influencers with large followings should be more responsible in producing content and spreading positive values instead of playing on 3R sentiments. He was commenting on a widely spread issue involving an influencer who is believed to have participated in a religious ceremony during a Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves, Selangor. Yuneswaran said the ministry views issues involving religious rituals seriously and expressed hope that it would be handled tactfully, adding that the investigation has been left entirely to the religious authorities and police. He urged the public not to rush to judgement or politicise the issue, but rather to allow authorities to conduct their investigation and resolve the matter promptly. In addition, he invited social media influencers to work with the ministry to promote the Federal Constitution, Rukun Negara and National Nationhood Programme. On Sunday, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department confirmed that it has begun investigating a widely spread post involving an individual believed to be Muslim who was alleged to have participated in another religion’s ritual in contravention of Islamic law. Meanwhile, the investigation into the video allegedly showing a Muslim individual participating in a non-Muslim religious ritual has been referred to relevant authorities. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said the parties concerned would provide updates on the investigation after obtaining complete information on the matter. He was speaking after attending the Madani Knowledge Assembly with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim here on Monday, Bernama reported. The event began with welcoming remarks by Zulkifli before an opening lecture by Turkish Islamic scholar Sheikh Prof Dr Muhammad Fadhil al-Jilani al-Hasani on Imam al-Ghazali’s interpretation of Surah Yusuf. Zulkifli said the Islamic Development Department and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department are continuing their monitoring efforts and raising public awareness of the issue.

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Govt must rethink how streets are designed, maintained, protected to remain reliable for future generations: Minister

“When it is implemented, it will of course use AI as well.” He said technology is already being used in road planning, management and maintenance, including at monitoring centres handling road operations. “We must move together with industry players globally. Technology is very dynamic. “On AI, we are already applying it in managing, planning and maintaining our roads – federal roads, state roads and roads under local authorities. We are using AI.” MLFF is a barrier-free toll collection system that allows vehicles to pass through toll points without stopping at toll booths. The system was announced by the government in 2022 as part of plans to introduce barrier-free toll collection on highways. The conference, held with the sixth International Road Federation Global Asia-Pacific Regional Congress, involved 118 technical papers and 112 exhibition spaces. public comfort. “Through the initiative, we want to provide facilities that are not only clean, attractive and fragrant but also smarter and more comfortable for the public. “The use of smart technology allows cleanliness and maintenance standards to be monitored more efficiently, systematically and continuously,” he noted. Meanwhile, Nga said participation in the ministry’s Toilet of the Year Awards has increased by 146%, from 345 entries in 2023 to 849 this year. The awards ceremony will be held on Oct 20, covering eight categories comprising shopping complexes, petrol stations, hotels, rest and service areas, restaurants, schools, houses of worship, and local authorities. He emphasised that the awards encourage private-sector participation in efforts to improve public sanitation standards. Nga added that the ministry would intensify its cleanliness initiatives ahead of Visit Malaysia 2027, noting that the condition of public toilets could influence tourists’ experiences and perceptions of the country. He also called on Malaysians to regard the upkeep of public toilets and their surroundings as a shared responsibility.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s road network is facing growing pressure from traffic demand, ageing assets, higher maintenance costs and climate-related hazards, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi yesterday. He said extreme heat, floods, landslides and seismic risks have added to the challenge of keeping roads reliable, requiring the government to rethink how roads are designed, maintained and protected so that they remain reliable for future generations. He was speaking during his opening address at the 13th Malaysian Road Conference and Exhibition here. Nanta said the 13th Malaysia Plan, covering 2026 to 2030, marks a shift from simply building more roads to developing networks that are more resilient, intelligent and sustainable, while being better PUTRAJAYA: A total of 11,835 school and public toilet upgrades have been carried out nationwide since 2023 under the government’s Clean, Attractive and Fragrant initiative, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. He emphasised that the improvements involved 1,592 toilets under local authorities and toilet facilities at 10,243 schools, through cooperation between the ministry, local authorities and the Education Ministry. He added that 3,182 of the 3,940 public toilets under the administration and operation of local authorities nationwide have achieved ratings of four stars and above, representing 80.8% of the total. “Public toilets reflect the level of civilisation, the culture of cleanliness, the image of our cities and the progress of a nation.” Nga was speaking when officiating at Malaysia’s first smart toilet facility under the initiative at Dataran Putra here yesterday. The facility is equipped with automatic flushing systems, touchless water taps and soap dispensers, as well as an Internet of Things-based fragrance system. Ű BY THESUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

and public infrastructure issues from Aug 1, 2023 to Aug 31 this year, of which 22,131 involved roads under ministry agencies while 48,101 were referred to local authorities and other agencies. He stressed that 21,444 of the ministry-related complaints, or 96.90%, have been resolved while the remaining 687 are under investigation. He also emphasised that the figures show a need for a clear channel for road users to report defects and safety concerns. At a press conference after the opening, Nanta said the Multi-Lane Fast Flow (MLFF) toll system would use digital technology and AI when it is rolled out in the future.

integrated with economic activity. “High-quality road connections remain vital to trade, logistics, tourism, regional integration and rural development.” He also said the Works Ministry’s priorities include completing the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah and Sarawak, the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road, the Kota Bharu-Kuala Krai Highway and the Lebuhraya Lingkaran Tengah Utama. The ministry would continue upgrading heavily used federal roads and strengthening access to ports, airports, economic corridors, industrial parks and logistics centres, he added. Nanta said MYJalan had received 70,232 complaints on road damage

11,800 public schools, toilets upgraded since 2023

Nga (right) inspecting the facilities at the Clean, Attractive and Fragrant restroom alongside ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr M. Noor Azman Taib (left). – BERNAMAPIC

smoke detectors, user feedback panels and an app to track cleaning activities. He said the technology would allow authorities to monitor cleanliness and maintenance more efficiently while improving

Other include cubicle occupancy indicators and environmental sensors that monitor lighting, air quality, ammonia levels, temperature and humidity. It also incorporates automated floor cleaning and drying systems, features

Call to set up halfway house for child cancer patients in Sabah KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah Branch has urged the state government to establish a dedicated halfway house for children from rural and remote districts. Its chairman Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang said such a facility is urgently needed at the Paediatric Oncology Unit at the Sabah Women and Children Hospital, where between 80 and 100 new childhood cancer cases are recorded annually, with nearly half involving patients from outside Kota Kinabalu. “Many of them come from Pitas, Kota Marudu and Kudat while a large proportion are diagnosed with acute leukaemia, requiring treatment that undergoing cancer treatment and their caregivers, particularly those

family members for extended periods. “I believe this is an area in which the Sabah government can and should take the lead. These are Sabah children, and many of the families affected come from our most distant and underserved districts.” – Bernama

could last up to eight months. “For families living several hours away, the challenge is not limited to the illness itself. They must also find accommodation, bear transport and daily living costs, and in many cases leave behind employment and other