Melaka: The newly opened three-kilometre road connecting Serkam and Bemban will serve as a strategic alternative route for tourists travelling from the south to Melaka, particularly to the main tourist attractions in the city centre via the Jasin Toll, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh. He stated that the new road, linking the Jalan Serkam-Bemban junction to the Jalan Kandang junction, would also help shorten travel time by up to five minutes, particularly for local residents travelling from Ayer Molek to the Jasin Toll.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the RM20.2 million two-lane road project, which began on November 15, 2022, and was completed on April 25 this year, was funded through an allocation approved by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry under the First Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan. Ab Rauf emphasized that this infrastructure project not only connects places but also represents the people's hopes for a brighter future. He remarked that the road symbolizes inclusive progress, demonstrating that the state government has not neglected the needs of the rural population.
Ab Rauf highlighted the close cooperation and shared determination between the state and federal governments, which contributed to the road project and will continue to serve as a catalyst for a more sustainable, inclusive, and competitive Melaka. He noted that the project aligns with the Melakaku Maju Jaya Strategic Plan 2035, aiming for not just rapid physical development but also balanced economic and social growth.
Additionally, the federal government has approved nine new development and road upgrade projects following negotiations and applications submitted by the state government, according to Ab Rauf. He mentioned that these projects are at various stages of implementation, with the upgrading of Jalan Tun Hamzah from the JPJ Intersection to Semabok, involving an allocation of RM300 million, expected to begin in December. The construction of a new road from Kuala Linggi to Ayer Molek, Masjid Tanah, at a cost of RM125 million, is anticipated to start in March next year, while the RM35.2 million road from the Rim junction to Kampung Ulu Jasin is slated for completion this August.