Govt to explore privatisation model for West Coast Expressway southern link

PUTRAJAYA (April 10): The government will explore a privatisation model for the proposed southern alignment of the West Coast Expressway (WCE), following deliberations at the 50th meeting of the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In a statement, the council said the proposed WCE southern link from Banting to Gelang Patah, spanning 303.5km, is among key infrastructure initiatives aimed at improving capacity and easing congestion.

The meeting also noted plans for a new 118.7km road linking Simpang Pelangai to Putrajaya. Both projects are intended to serve as alternative high-capacity routes to alleviate congestion along the North–South Expressway and the Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway.

The NPPC agreed that the infrastructure proposals should be explored under a privatisation framework to optimise cost management and improve fiscal efficiency. Further discussions will be carried out with relevant state governments to refine implementation and delivery.

Separately, the council reviewed the Draft Fifth National Physical Plan (RFN5) and Draft Third National Urbanisation Policy (DPN3), prepared by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Malaysia through PLANMalaysia.

The documents are intended to guide Malaysia’s spatial planning and development towards a more balanced and sustainable framework. The council said further coordination with state governments, including Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan, will be undertaken before the plans are finalised.

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