Kuala lumpur: Roads built on government-owned land, especially main roads, will remain public assets and are not permitted to be sold or transferred to the private sector. This was affirmed by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, highlighting their status as strategic national assets.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Syed Ibrahim emphasized that private sector involvement with these roads is confined to management or maintenance through concession agreements, ensuring that government ownership and the public status of the roads remain intact. He underscored that any changes, such as closure or disposal of public roads, require extensive approval processes under several legislative frameworks, including the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172), the Roads, Drains and Buildings Act 1974 (Act 133), and the National Land Code 1965 (Act 828).

During a session in the Dewan Rakyat, Syed Ibrahim addressed a query from P. Prabakaran (PH-Batu) regarding the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability's policy on the potential sale or transfer of roads on government land to the private sector. He clarified that any proposed alterations to public road routes involving government land necessitate state authority approval. This involves considerations of land management, gazettement, and disposal as regulated under Act 828.

The Deputy Minister further explained that the government employs a comprehensive assessment process. This includes verifying land status, technical evaluations by the Public Works Department and local councils concerning safety, capacity, and accessibility, along with conditions set by state authorities. These conditions mandate the provision of an equivalent or improved alternative route before implementing any changes.