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RM50.6mil access road to connect Asahan and Jementah (TheStar 22nd August 2013)

by allison lai

JASIN: A 17.2km rural access road will be built to connect Asahan here and Jementah in Segamat, Johor across the Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Johor borders.

The RM50.6mil project involves widening and tarring the existing red-earth and bumpy terrain, which the villagers have been using all these while.

Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron said the special road project that spanned across the three states was under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and involved various agencies from the states.
“Work on the site is scheduled to start by the end of August and is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2016.

“I believe the new road will spur more economic activities and development for the state, especially Asahan,” he said after a project briefing in Asahan recently.

The briefing also included a three-hour road trip where an entourage of 20 4x4 vehicles ferried Idris, other state leaders and representatives from various state agencies and members of the media from Asahan to Jementah town in Segamat before returning.

Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob also joined in the trip half-way when the tour was on its way back, and made a brief stop near a plantation along the road that offered a scenic view of the Gunung Ledang.

Johor Public Works Department (JKR) director Datuk Dr Roslan Md Taha, who was also present, said the project involved 15.6km of road in Johor, with another 800m each in Malacca and Negri Sembilan.

“About 30ha of land will be acquired for the project and a total of three bridges will be built along the new road,” he said, adding that its maintenance was under the responsibility of Johor JKR.

During the briefing, Dr Roslan said the road would begin from Taman Jementah Jaya and passes through Welch plantation to the back of Kampung Bukit Keledang bypassing houses and a mosque there.

“Then it will pass through Kampung Kenangan Gemeh and ends at the junction near the Asahan water treatment plant.”

Idris noted that the new road, upon completion, is set to bring in more visitors to visit Jasin for relax and recreational purposes as there were several destinations, such as the Laman Tiga Budaya and waterfall, ponds, orchards and the Gunung Ledang forest here.

“It will become the main access road for motorists from Rompin, Kuantan and other east coast towns to Malacca.

“I have also proposed for an R&R station to be built in the Asahan town for the convenience of visitors.

“Other forms of development in terms of landscape, infrastructure and commercial lots along the road will also complement the stretch as a scenic journey for motorists,” he added.

Work on Gemas-Johor Baru tracks to start soon (TheStar 19th February 2010)

By DESIREE TRESA GASPER 

SEGAMAT: Work on the Gemas-Johor Baru dual tracking rail project awarded to a company from China will begin soon, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

“This project is a major step forward in developing the state further,” said Ong during his visit to the Segamat Inland Port here.

He said in order to upgrade the current railway services, the country should consider having wider tracks that would be able to accommodate high speed trains.

He explained that many people did not understand why the Government was still focusing on trains that were only travelling at 140kph when countries like China and Japan already had high-speed trains.

“The problem lies in the tracks. The current ones will not be able to handle high-speed trains as they are too narrow,” he said.

A narrow track could result in a high-speed train being derailed.

“A standard gauge track is wider and it would be more stable. And it is time for us to set our sights on building these tracks alongside the old ones,” he said.

As for the Padang Besar-Johor Baru tracking project, Ong said compensation to squatters and land owners including the state governments was settled before Chinese New Year.

“The question of compensation does not arise anymore,” he said after visiting the Kereta Api Tanah Melayu Berhad railway station here.

On the Segamat Inland Port, Ong said the ministry was looking into reviving it.
“We found that one of the major reasons for the closure of the port in 2006 was the management,” he said.

He also added that he would be talking to businessmen in the area to gain feedback and gauge the viability of reopening the port.

The cost of building the Segamat Inland Port is estimated at about RM21mil.