In a renewed effort to improve road safety nationwide, the Works Ministry has announced a new standard operating procedure (SOP) that mandates all potholes on federal roads be repaired within 24 hours.
Potholes on federal roads must be filled within 24 hours
The announcement was made by Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan during a Parliament session, in response to answer a question from Batang Lupar MP Mohamad Shafizan Kepli, who raised concerns about how quickly the ministry responds to reports of damaged roads.
“If there’s a pothole on a federal road, it must be filled within 24 hours. That’s our SOP. We want roads used by the public to be safe and well-maintained,” he said.
Image credit: Malay Mail
Additional road facilities will be repaired in a timely manner to improve safety
The SOP also outlines that other infrastructure-related complaints must be resolved within 15 days at most, such as:
- Faded road markings
- Malfunctioning traffic lights
- Damaged road signs
- Poor lighting
- Obstructions
- Landslides
“While potholes must be fixed within 24 hours, we are also encouraging other agencies such as the Housing and Local Government Ministry, the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, and the Agriculture Ministry to adopt the same standard,” said Ahmad Maslan.
He also highlighted that the commitment is especially important in states like Sarawak, where the combination of challenging terrain and a vast road network, including federal roads and the Pan Borneo Highway, makes timely maintenance even more critical.
All road users must also be mindful of road safety
Ahmad Maslan emphasized that infrastructure alone cannot prevent tragedies.
“The real key to preventing road accidents is obeying speed limits,” he said.
This move comes amid increasing public pressure to address road safety concerns across the country, especially in the wake of high-profile fatal accidents.
Image credit: CarSifu
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