ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Federal Government has yet to issue an official statement on the status of the upgrading works at the Senai Desaru Expressway (SDE), a state exco said today (Dec 9).
State Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee chairman Mazlan Bujang said the federal government had previously postponed the project indefinitely.
He said on Dec 12 last year, the then Works Minister announced that the government had approved a RM390 million allocation to upgrade and expand the SDE from two lanes to four, involving a 26km stretch from Cahaya Baru in Pasir Gudang to the Bandar Penawar intersection in Kota Tinggi.
"According to the plan, a tender would be opened after the Works Ministry finalised the project's value assessment and design.
"However, a session was held on July 17 between the Finance Ministry, the Works Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit to identify the list of Works Ministry projects that had not been issued acceptance letters, as well as the project savings.
"Following the session, the project to upgrade and expand the SDE was cancelled," he said.
Mazlan said this in reply to Datuk Syed Sis Syed A. Rahman (Umno-Tanjung Surat), who asked about the SDE's upgrading works during the Johor state legislative assembly sitting here today.
He said Johor Petroleum Development Corporation Bhd (JPDC) would continue holding discussions with the federal government to consider proceeding with the project.
"The project to upgrade and expand the SDE is important to support the development of the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex and to address the increase in traffic volume caused by the development," he said.