KUALA LUMPUR: AFA Infrastructure and Development Sdn Bhd (“AFA” or “the Company”) and its subsidiary companies (collectively referred to as “AFA Group”) has allocated RM2.1 billion for the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway widening project, aimed at addressing congestion and improving safety along one of Malaysia’s busiest highways. The company has also allocated RM200 million for the East Coast Expressway (ECE) flood mitigation project to strengthen the highway’s resilience during adverse weather conditions.
AFA Group chairman Tan Sri Azmil Khalili Khalid said the company will finance both projects through internally generated funds and bank borrowings, without relying on government funding. He said AFA’s mission is to build a transportation network that strengthens national connectivity, uplifts local communities and supports sustainable development.
“Together with key stakeholders, AFA is committed to delivering infrastructure projects that will propel Malaysia forward in alignment with its economic and social goals,” he said during a media briefing.
The KL-Karak widening project will involve upgrading the highway from Gombak Toll Plaza to Bentong Toll Plaza, including new tunnel construction and enhanced safety measures. The project will be carried out in two sections. Under Section 1, the stretch from Gombak Toll Plaza to Genting Sempah will be upgraded from a dual three-lane carriageway to a dual four-lane highway, with the addition of a new two-lane tunnel. Section 2, from Genting Sempah to Bentong Toll Plaza, will be widened from a dual two-lane to a dual three-lane highway.
Upon completion, the widened KL-Karak Expressway is expected to reduce congestion, improve safety, strengthen regional connectivity and improve incident management. The upgraded highway is projected to accommodate an additional 1,400 vehicles per hour per direction, representing a 25 per cent increase in capacity. Construction is scheduled to begin in January and is expected to take 48 months to complete.
For the ECE 1 flood mitigation project, AFA is implementing measures to raise road profiles at flood-prone sections and other vulnerable locations along the highway. Additional works include expanding highway drainage systems to manage larger water volumes, extending and reinforcing culverts to improve water flow and load support, stabilising slopes to prevent erosion and landslides in flood-prone areas, raising road levels in frequently flooded zones, and introducing strategic vegetation management to reduce runoff and enhance water absorption.
The flood mitigation project is targeted for completion by December 2028.
Azmil said the domestic economy continues to rely heavily on infrastructure development, encompassing projects such as roads, properties and other strategic developments. He added that AFA practises transparency in its tendering process to ensure fairness and wider industry participation.
“When the government initiates infrastructure projects, it creates opportunities for companies to bid for contracts. From the outset, we have emphasised a transparent process for negotiating tenders. Every tender is conducted on an open basis, ensuring that any company meeting the required criteria can participate. Once qualifications are met, contractors are eligible to tender,” he said.
“The entire process is designed to be both open and transparent.”
Azmil said such practices not only strengthen the economy by driving construction activity, but also create significant job opportunities and enable construction companies to participate actively in new projects.
For context, AFA was established through the integration of ANIH Behad, now known as AFA PRIME Berhad, Alloy MTD Maintenance Engineering Sdn Bhd, now rebranded as AFA Construction and Engineering Sdn Bhd, and Alloy Toll Management Sdn Bhd, which has been renamed AFA Systems and Services Sdn Bhd.
AFA PRIME Berhad is the concessionaire for the KL-Karak Highway and the East Coast Expressway, while AFA Construction and Engineering Sdn Bhd manages maintenance and engineering services for highway assets and structures, including drainage, pavement and slopes. AFA Systems and Services Sdn Bhd is responsible for toll management and collection.
— The Sun Daily
Published by theSun. (29 Nov 2024). For more details, read the full news coverage here: AFA allocates RM2.3 b to upgrade KL-Karak and East Coast highways