Challenges of Road Development in Rural Areas
By Ir . Roslan bin Mat Sapri Undersecretary , Technical Division Ministry of Rural Development Malaysia
Malaysia is a developing and peaceful country where the people live in harmony . However , there are still many isolated communities due to their remote locations . This leads to infrastructure inequalities where rural areas are less developed compared with urban areas . These include inequalities in basic facilities such as roads , clean water supply and communication networks , that are critical to the well-being of a community .
The majority of roads in Malaysia are rural roads , which are classified as state roads . Rural roads are defined as publicly owned roads whose primary function is to provide direct access to economic and social services for rural communities . One of the best ways to boost the local economy is through improved rural road networks . By using green development practices , rural roads may also have a beneficial impact on the social , economic , and environmental conditions of surrounding areas . The lack of basic amenities such as roads can be the main factor affecting the quality of life of rural communities which generally rely on agricultural resources . Furthermore , the lack of basic amenities in the rural areas has a negative impact on the residents , leading to an increasing rate of poverty , declining agricultural production , and lowering the ability to improve quality of life . This article aims to provide a review of the challenges faced in the development of rural road networks based on literature review .
Road Development in Malaysia
In 1966 , the network of roads in Malaysia amounted to only 15,000km while currently the total length of roads is over 85,000km , an almost six-fold increase . Peninsular Malaysia ’ s main inter-city roads are now mostly two-lane dual carriageways . The 869km North-South Expressway , with multi-lane dual carriageways , connecting Johor Baharu in the south of Peninsular Malaysia to Padang Besar on the Thai border in the north , has resulted in a huge improvement in the country ’ s road network . Furthermore , the Public Works Department recorded a total 237,022,353km of roads in 2018 , including federal roads , highways , and state roads . State roads contributed the largest proportion , at more than 90 % of the total . State roads are mainly managed by agencies and authorities including JKR State , JKR District , and some roads by the Ministry of Rural Development .
Role of the Ministry of Rural Development
The Ministry of Rural Development , also known as KPLB , is responsible for rural development , covering bumiputera and Orang Asli communities , small-scale rubber holdings , land consolidation , and land rehabilitation . KPLB has the vision to be a leader in rural development , and its mission is to improve the well-being of rural communities comprehensively and effectively . In 1977 , “ Program Jalan Luar Bandar ” ( JALB ) was launched as part of the Accelerated Rural Road Programme ( ARRP ). The purpose of this programme is to enhance the development of roads in order to provide connectivity for necessary economic and social services in rural areas . In order to meet people ’ s growing needs , KPLB is consistent in its efforts to achieve their goals in providing highquality services through an efficient and effective delivery system . In addition to its on-going efforts to improve the coverage of the rural road network , the JALB programme has been implemented in accordance with the policy statement “ to improve and expand the transport systems in
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