Kuala lumpur: WCE Holdings Bhd will carefully assess any formal proposal for the proposed Southern Link extension of the West Coast Expressway (WCE), taking into account the prevailing policy, funding, and development framework. Its chief executive officer Lyndon Alfred Felix said the company would study the details of any proposal and assess its overall merits and implications before determining its position.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, at this stage, WCE Holdings does not have enough information to conduct a full and detailed study. Felix emphasized that once the details are available, and if the project is deemed viable, a southern extension would benefit the existing WCE by increasing traffic. He was speaking at a press conference after the 25th WCE Holdings Annual General Meeting 2026.

Felix also urged the government to provide adequate support to ensure the project's realization, particularly amid rising construction costs and land acquisition challenges. He noted that construction costs have increased significantly, and land acquisition poses a major risk. Without sufficient government support, these risks could be too high for the project to proceed. The company plans to study the risks, construction costs, and land acquisition issues before reaching a clear conclusion.

On April 9, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government announced plans to explore two major highway projects under a privatisation model. These include the proposed 303.5km southern link of the WCE from Banting, Selangor to Gelang Patah, Johor, and a 118.7km road linking Simpang Pelangai in Pahang to Putrajaya. The ministry stated that the initiative aims to optimise cost management and enhance the country's fiscal efficiency.