Govt urged to extend road upgrade works in Negeri Sembilan border

BERA: Bera Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is seeking the government’s consideration to extend road upgrading works at Jalan TemerlohBera here, which were completed recently, up to the Negeri Sembilan border.

Ismail Sabri, who is also the Senior Minister (Security Cluster), said the route has become an alternative for those coming from the east coast especially west Pahang, who want to head south without having to enter Kuala Lumpur.

“We estimate the cost to upgrade the 23-kilometre road to be around RM350 million and if it cannot be done up to the Negeri Sembilan border, we hope the government can consider implementing it up to Kemayan (in Bera) to save cost.

“The route seems to be able to reduce traffic congestion on the highway heading towards Kuala Lumpur especially at the Gombak and Bentong toll plazas during the festive season. In fact, the road is getting popular now, causing it to be busy during weekends.”

Ismail Sabri said this to reporters after attending the handing-over ceremony of road upgrading project from Jalan Kampung Chuat to Kampung Imam Sulong in Kampung Chuat here, on Sunday, with Pahang Public Works Department deputy director Ir Ahmad Azizi Ismail also present.

Commenting on Jalan Kampung Chuat, he said the upgrading works involved a 4.1 km route with a final cost of RM3 million, which started on Aug 14, 2019 and completed on Dec 15, last year, three months earlier than scheduled.

“The road benefits over 1,500 people from surrounding areas especially Kampung Chuat residents who consist of the Orang Asli community to go to nearby traditional villages and to the town to purchase daily necessities,” he said.

Ismail Sabri said road upgrading works were also carried out in two more Orang Asli settlements in Bera, involving an allocation of RM5 million, respectively, namely in Kampung Serting which had been completed, while the works in Kampung Bongkok would commence soon.

“This shows that the government never sidelined the Orang Asli community and I have personally asked all Tok Batin around Bera to ensure that residents don’t simply open up new settlements to make it easier for the government to channel aid,” he said.