KUCHING, Oct 4: The number of complaints regarding road damage received by the Works Ministry through the MYJalan application has increased tenfold since its launch in August 2023, in line with the MYJalan road safety campaign, says Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
In a press release issued yesterday, the Works Minister stated that it was a positive development and a testament to the people’s concern for the quality of life and the government’s proactive efforts in ensuring the nation’s road infrastructure is in good and safe condition.
The nation’s MYJalan campaign was presented by Nanta at the 27th World Road Congress which is currently taking place in Prague, Czech Republic, from Oct 2 to Oct 6.
“I have the opportunity to share Malaysia’s experience in relation to road safety and maintenance on the international stage on the first day of the 27th World Road Congress, organised by the Permanent Association of International Road Congresses (PIARC).
“One of the important things I presented was the vision and initiative of the MYJalan campaign, which was launched by Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim in August 2023.”
Nanta noted that in PIARC president Nazir Alli’s opening speech at the congress, he emphasised that road safety is a shared responsibility, which is certainly in line with the spirit of the MYJalan campaign.
“This campaign aims to increase accountability and promote awareness among road users, industry players, and government agencies that roads are a shared responsibility.”
He also stated that the campaign aligns with the Vision Zero strategy, which was introduced by Sweden and has been implemented by many countries, including Malaysia and the European Union (EU), since 2019 as a step forward to ensure future generations have the correct mindset, which is ‘accidents are preventable and every death in an accident is unacceptable’.
“This campaign also acts as a collective effort and advocacy platform in educating road users about road maintenance.
“Road maintenance activities are important to control the rate of damage and ensure that road services are at their best, further guaranteeing the comfort and safety of all parties.”
Nanta further remarked that the ministry will continue to improve the user complaint channel via the MYJalan application as a road maintenance monitoring system, thereby overcoming critical issues that users frequently face, particularly damaged or potholed roads.
“I also shared Malaysia’s commitment to implement the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with the goal of integrating efforts, activities, and initiatives into policies and programmes of road safety authorities in Malaysia.
“This commitment is reflected in the Malaysian Road Safety Plan 2022-2030, outlining a framework that includes 10 priority areas, including road safety management, safer vehicles, safer road users, and safer driving environments, focusing on enhancing road safety in Malaysia.”
He also pointed out the technical aspects of road safety, including guidelines and systems with active involvement from the Works Ministry, the Public Works Department (JKR), and the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) that play a crucial role in creating vital road engineering related documents.
The Malaysia’s Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Action Plan (2019-2023) and a new Master’s programme in Road Safety Engineering at the Universiti Malaya were also highlighted.
Nanta further emphasised the importance of taking comprehensive action and fostering collaboration across different sectors in order to achieve road safety goals.
“Malaysia’s presence at the congress underscores its dedication to international road safety and safer road environments for all citizens.”
Themed ‘Together On The Road Again’, the 27th World Road Congress, which was opened by the Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Czech Senate president Milos Vystrcil, was attended by more than 22 countries. — DayakDaily
