Kuala lumpur: Public Works Department (JKR) personnel have been reminded not to succumb to negative perceptions or criticism, especially on social media, but instead to remain committed to upholding integrity and professionalism in delivering the best services to the people. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi emphasized the ongoing challenges faced by the ministry and JKR in dealing with criticism.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, such criticism frequently emerges following incidents involving public infrastructure and loss of lives, such as the recent tragic accident that resulted in the deaths of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students along the East-West Highway (JRTB) in Gerik, Perak last month. Nanta highlighted that while the department shares in the grief, they are often unfairly blamed for incidents where multiple factors are at play.
He illustrated this with the Gerik bus accident, where misinformation circulated about the role of the guardrail in the fatalities. Nanta clarified that the accident was primarily due to speeding, and though the existing guardrail design might have some risks, alternative designs have not yet been implemented. He assured that a review of potential design improvements is forthcoming.
During the 2025 Senior Officers Conference (SOC) for JKR Malaysia, Nanta acknowledged the swift response and mitigation efforts by JKR, yet pointed out that road-related issues are frequently sensationalized by netizens. He urged JKR personnel to transcend the criticism by consistently providing dedicated and transparent services to the public, thereby countering any false accusations.
The three-day SOC 2025 conference, attended by approximately 400 senior JKR officers, including top management, district engineers, and cadre officers, commenced today. With the theme ‘JKR Mampan: Memacu Kelestarian MADANI’, the annual conference strives to foster critical thinking and unity among senior JKR officers, aiming to enhance service delivery in a sustainable and holistic way.