By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 11: The federal government has allocated RM34.19 million in 2026 for the installation of solar-powered LED streetlights at 362 selected locations along federal roads nationwide as part of efforts to improve road safety and visibility, particularly during nighttime travel.
Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the initiative forms part of the government’s targeted expansion of Integrated Solar LED (ISLED) street lighting, focusing on areas where additional lighting is needed to enhance safety for road users.
“The government is also implementing a separate highway safety initiative through the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and the Program Pantau Madani 2026, involving the installation of 3,000 solar LED lighting poles at 32 high-risk and accident-prone locations across the country’s highway network,” he said in a post shared on his social media on Monday (Aug 10) after a working visit to the SBC Lighting Sdn Bhd manufacturing facility in Klang.
Nanta added that the programme carries an initial allocation of RM25.2 million and is targeted for completion by the end of November this year.
“These are two different initiatives, but they share the same objective of improving safety and visibility for users of federal roads and highways, especially at night,” he said.
Nanta stressed that quality would remain a key consideration in the implementation of the projects, given the significant public investment involved.
“We are not merely looking to install more lights. We must ensure that the products used meet technical specifications, are durable and can operate effectively over the long term,” he said.
To ensure quality and compliance, the Public Works Department (JKR) has issued guidelines governing the use of ISLED street lights in government projects. The guidelines include requirements for product quality, compliance with standards and a minimum five-year warranty.
The minister noted that solar street-lighting technology has already been widely adopted nationwide.
“As of May 2026, a total of 19,493 ISLED units had been installed throughout Peninsular Malaysia,” he informed.
He added that products intended for government projects are required to undergo registration under JKR’s Electrical Material Approved List (EMAL), which serves as part of the government’s quality-control framework.
Nanta said solar-powered streetlights used for public road infrastructure differ significantly from consumer-grade products available in the market, with specifications covering illumination levels, structural strength, battery capacity, pole height, weather resistance and user safety.
He said future deployments would continue to be carried out based on technical suitability, cost-effectiveness and local requirements, particularly in areas located far from the electricity grid as well as locations affected by cable theft and vandalism.
“Every ringgit spent must deliver value to the people through brighter roads, safer journeys and infrastructure that remains reliable for the long term,” he said. — DayakDaily
