By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Sept 10 — The troubled Maju Expressway II (MEX II) has been listed among major infrastructure projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), with progress now at 89 per cent, according to Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
In a parliamentary reply dated yesterday, Alexander said MEX II is part of a portfolio of large-scale highways currently being built across the peninsula.
The others are the West Coast Expressway, which is 95.5 per cent complete, the Central Spine Road or Lingkaran Tengah Utama (73.3 per cent), and the Kota Bharu–Kuala Krai Expressway (55.8 per cent).
Other ongoing projects include the widening of the Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway from Gombak to Bentong (1 per cent), and the New Pantai Expressway extension, which secured a supplementary concession agreement on August 27.
In East Malaysia, the Pan Borneo Highway is progressing steadily, with the Sarawak section nearing completion at 99.9 per cent, while the Sabah section continues to advance in phases.
The Sarawak–Sabah Link Road has also reached 58.5 per cent for Phase 1, with preparatory works 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 ongoing with the receiver and manager appointed by sukuk holders to finalise project costs, cash flow, traffic analysis, and toll rates.
He added the highway would remain fully funded by the concessionaire under the build-operate-transfer model.
MEX II parent company Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd director Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed, 74, was charged yesterday with four counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM313 million and 13 counts of money laundering involving RM139.2 million linked to the project.
He pleaded not guilty before Judge Suzana Hussin at the Sessions Court and was granted RM1.5 million bail with one surety.
The court ordered him to surrender his passport pending trial, with case mention fixed for November 3.
Abu Sahid is accused of misappropriating funds held in a bank account between 2016 and 2019 and of transferring or disposing of proceeds from unlawful activities totalling over RM139 million.
The money laundering charges were brought under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001, which carries up to 15 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the value of the illicit proceeds upon conviction.
