Ipoh: Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad has expressed hope that the proposal to upgrade the East-West Highway (JRTB) linking Gerik and Jeli will be included in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). Saarani stated that the state government had communicated its intention to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his recent visit to Lumut.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saarani emphasized the need to reassess the alignment and widening of the JRTB. The proposed upgrade involves more than just resurfacing; it necessitates a full reconstruction due to the aging structure, with some damage exposing the road base. Saarani noted that the highway has been in use for over 40 years, and simple patchwork repairs may no longer suffice. However, he acknowledged that constructing a new alignment or rebuilding the JRTB would require substantial funding.
Saarani also mentioned that the state government has directed the State Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport chairman, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, and Human Resources, Health, Indian Community Affairs and National Integration chairman A. Sivanesan, to prepare a comprehensive report and study on upgrading the JRTB and Gerik Hospital. Mohammad Nizar will gather information from the Works Ministry concerning the JRTB upgrade, while Sivanesan is tasked with applying to the Health Ministry for the Gerik Hospital upgrade, which is urgently needed in case of accidents.
Saarani highlighted that if Gerik Hospital is upgraded, it would allow for immediate treatment of patients or accident victims locally, provided the hospital is equipped with necessary facilities and expertise. Once the study is complete, a formal letter will be submitted to the relevant ministry.
The urgency of the upgrades became apparent following a tragic accident on June 9 near Tasik Banding, Gerik, which resulted in the death of 15 Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students. The chartered bus they were traveling in from Jertih, Terengganu, to the main campus in Tanjong Malim, Perak, was involved in a crash that also injured 33 others, including the bus driver, his assistant, and the driver and three passengers of a multi-purpose vehicle.