Works ministry orders immediate repairs of Johor road after pothole caused accident that killed two students

The works ministry has ordered the concessionaire responsible for maintaining Jalan Sengkang-Felda Inas-Bandar Tenggara in Johor to immediately repair potholes along the route. This comes after two secondary school students aged 16 and 17 were killed after their motorcycle hit a pothole on the road.

As reported by Bernama, works minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi revealed the concessionaire was instructed to carry out temporary patching within three hours on the day of the incident (March 21, 2025) and to conduct permanent repairs within 24 hours.

“In addition, patrols along the road and other routes will be increased, and potholes identified will be repaired within 24 hours. Signs alerting road users to damaged sections that pose safety risks will be installed at affected locations,” he said in a statement.

Nanta added he had repeatedly emphasised that maintenance work must be given serious attention as it involved human lives. “Therefore, I have ordered immediate action to be taken and have instructed all those involved to provide me with a complete and detailed report. I have also issued stern warnings many times before,” he said.

Under the asset maintenance policy, the public works department (JKR), through its client charter, requires the appointed federal road concessionaire to conduct temporary repairs within one day and permanent repairs within three days in the event of road damage.

For large-scale repair work, an allocation application must be submitted in advance, and the work could be carried out annually and in phases. Such repairs would take between a month and a year, depending on the nature of the work, its complexity as well as the approval of the required allocation.

Nanta also noted that annual inspections are conducted for the entire federal road network in Malaysia, with the results submitted to the government through JKR for approval. “Once the government approves the allocation, the department will instruct the appointed concessionaires to carry out the necessary road repairs, such as overlays or mill-and-pave work,” he said.

“These works can be carried out within three weeks to three months after the allocation is received, depending on the availability of the concessionaire, work planning, and coordination with the agencies involved at the repair location,” he added.

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