THE government will not allow public roads built on government-owned land to be sold or transferred to private parties — particularly major roads, which are considered strategic national assets and essential public infrastructure.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, said private sector involvement is strictly limited to management or maintenance roles through concession agreements, without affecting government ownership of the land or its status as a public road.
Subject to Legislation and Multi-Layer Approval
According to him, any closure, disposal, or change of road status is subject to a gazettal process and approval from the relevant authorities under:
- Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172)
- Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133)
- National Land Code 1965 (Act 828)
The process involves scrutiny by the Public Works Department (JKR) and local authorities, state authority approval, and a requirement to provide an equivalent or superior alternative route where public access is affected.
State Authority Powers and Comprehensive Technical Assessment
Syed Ibrahim clarified that any changes to public road routes involving government land fall under the jurisdiction and approval of state authorities.
The assessment mechanisms include:
- Land status verification under the National Land Code
- Confirmation of whether the route constitutes government land or a road reserve
- Technical evaluation of safety, capacity, and accessibility
- A mandatory condition to provide an alternative route before any change is approved
These steps are in place to ensure the public interest remains protected and that access is not arbitrarily restricted.
A Strategic National Asset
The government has reaffirmed that major roads are strategic national assets and public facilities that cannot be transferred to private ownership.
Any third-party involvement is strictly limited to management or maintenance through concession arrangements — and does not in any way affect the government’s ownership rights over those roads.
Source: Astro Awani
