New Audit Move To Keep Highway Concessionaires In Check

The Works Ministry will roll out an external auditing system for highway concessionaires early next year aimed at ensuring Malaysia’s roads are maintained to the highest standards and that accountability no longer stays behind closed doors.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the plan comes as many concession contracts are due to expire soon. 

Under this initiative, highway maintenance companies will be reviewed periodically by independent external auditors, rather than relying only on internal checks by the Public Works Department (JKR) or the concessionaires themselves.

“Early next year, many concession contracts will expire. The companies involved in road maintenance will be audited from time to time by external auditors

"Even now, requests for new proposals have been made for certain areas. We are seeking external expertise to conduct these audits so that all maintenance work is completed at the highest quality,” he said in a Bernama report.

He stressed that road upkeep must receive the same level of attention as construction itself. 

“We do not want a situation where neglecting maintenance causes our roads to deteriorate quickly,” he stressed.

Industry experts have welcomed the move. Transport policy analyst Wan Agyl Wan Hassan told NST that the plan is timely and necessary, as independent oversight would improve transparency and restore public trust.

“Independent oversight ensures that maintenance works truly meet the required safety and quality standards, which translates into safer, more durable roads for the public

"An external audit helps prevent deferred maintenance and ensures toll revenues are properly reinvested," he explained.

While concessionaires may initially resist due to added costs or administrative burdens, the long-term benefits outweigh the inconvenience, Agyl stressed. 

 “Transparency is not just good governance. It reassures Malaysians that every ringgit collected is being reinvested into safer, better-maintained highways,” he concluded.