By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 24: The federal government is prepared to take firm legal action, including terminating contracts, against road maintenance concessionaires who fail to perform their duties properly, especially when negligence contributes to fatal accidents.
According to Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, his ministry is determined to uphold public trust by holding concessionaires accountable under the terms of their contracts.
“Every company entrusted with road maintenance responsibilities must adhere to the contract and carry out their duties efficiently and responsibly,” he emphasised in a Facebook post today, following a radio interview with Bernama earlier this morning.
He noted that the Ministry of Works (MOW), along with the Public Works Department (PWD), continues to receive repeated complaints from the public, including viral photos and videos that expose poor road conditions and unfulfilled maintenance obligations.
“In response, I, along with senior officers from MOW and PWD, have personally gone to the ground to inspect and assess the actual situation,” he said.
Nanta stressed that the government is currently reviewing whether legal action or penalties should be imposed on contractors or concessionaires found to be negligent, especially if their failure to maintain roads as required by contract leads to fatal accidents.
He pointed out that maintenance contracts already contain clauses for payment deductions if contractors fail to carry out road works, particularly safety measures.
Additionally, contracts allow for termination if a contractor is found to have failed, been negligent, or violated their responsibilities in routine maintenance.
Looking ahead, Nanta said that many existing concessionaire contracts are set to expire by February 2026.
In preparation, the ministry has initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) process that includes new terms and scopes.
“For the first time, MOW will include a new scope in future contracts whereby independent auditors will be engaged as part of the monitoring process,” he announced.
He explained that involving third-party auditors is vital to ensure oversight does not rely solely on PWD, but is also supported by external audit teams.
“The objective is clear—to strengthen accountability, integrity, and transparency,” Nanta asserted, adding that the new approach will include pre-contract monitoring to ensure companies are evaluated even before signing agreements.
He assured that the government remains committed to ensuring all Malaysians receive safe and high-quality road maintenance services.
“This transition to a more transparent system is not just timely, but crucial in safeguarding the interests and safety of all road users,” he added. — DayakDaily
