The Works Ministry today clarified that it never cancelled the Kota Baru-Kuala Krai highway, which has been on the books since the fifth Malaysia Plan, but it had only needed more time to ask for more allocation and reconsider certain facets of the planned construction.

azlan "The ministry never cancelled the highway, only put it on hold," Deputy Works Minister Yong Khoon Seng told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time today.

Answering the main question from Abdul Aziz Abdul Kadir (PKR-Ketereh), Yong gave assurances that the project will be given priority and consideration for implementation in the 11th Malaysia Plan.

On plans by the PAS-led Kelantan government to proceed and build the Kota Baru-Kuala Krai Highway on its own, he applauded the proposal and pledged technical help and any expertise it can to the state.

However, since the state announced it plans, Yong said that the ministry has yet to receive any request for assistance from Kelantan on the matter.

Shared responsibility

He explained that it is okay for the state to propose to build the road on its own as the responsibility over roads is shared by both state and federal governments. This is because it falls under both state and federal lists in the federal constitution.

The matter of federal road maintenance and construction in opposition ruled Kelantan is a sore matter as the opposition is accusing the federal government of intentionally not doing enough for to punish the people who voted them out.

The federal government has denied such allegations.