The Maju Expressway II (MEX II), long troubled by financing and construction delays, has been listed among key infrastructure projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), with progress now at 89%, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said in Parliament.
He noted MEX II is part of a portfolio of major highways across the peninsula, including the West Coast Expressway (95.5% complete), the Central Spine Road or Lingkaran Tengah Utama (73.3%), and the Kota Bharu–Kuala Krai Expressway (55.8%). Other works include the widening of the Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway from Gombak to Bentong, which has just begun at 1%, and the New Pantai Expressway extension, which secured a supplementary concession agreement on August 27.
In East Malaysia, the Pan Borneo Highway continues to dominate federal infrastructure spending, with the Sarawak section nearly complete at 99.9% and the Sabah portion progressing in phases. The Sarawak–Sabah Link Road has reached 58.5% for Phase 1, while preparatory works are underway for the Trans-Borneo Highway.
MEX II has faced years of delay after a notice of default was issued in January 2022. In August, Alexander said discussions were still ongoing with the receiver and manager appointed by sukuk holders to finalise project costs, cash flow projections, traffic analysis and toll rates. He reiterated that the highway remains fully funded by the concessionaire under the build-operate-transfer model.
The project took a legal turn yesterday when Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd director Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed, 74, was charged at the Sessions Court with four counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM313 million and 13 counts of money laundering totalling RM139.2 million linked to MEX II.
Abu Sahid pleaded not guilty before Judge Suzana Hussin and was released on RM1.5 million bail with one surety. The court ordered him to surrender his passport, with the case set for mention on November 3.
Prosecutors alleged that between 2016 and 2019, he misappropriated funds held in a bank account and subsequently transferred or disposed of proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to more than RM139 million. The money laundering charges were brought under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of not less than five times the value of the illicit proceeds upon conviction.
Despite the legal proceedings, the ministry maintains that construction works are moving forward, with completion targeted once financial and operational terms are finalised with stakeholders.
Media Selangor
