The Penang state government will apply for additional funding under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) to upgrade ageing roads, drains and other public infrastructure in three areas within the Bagan Dalam state constituency.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the request followed concerns raised by Bagan Dalam assemblyman Kumaran Krishnan, who highlighted residents’ complaints about deteriorating infrastructure, much of which is more than two decades old.

The proposed works cover road resurfacing, road shoulder repairs, and improvements to drains and drainage systems in Taman Mewah, Taman Bagan and Kampung Benggali.

Chow said Penang receives about RM300 million annually under Marris, but the allocation is insufficient to meet the growing demand for maintenance projects across the state.

He noted that MBSP would use its existing maintenance budget to address urgent safety issues such as potholes, while larger-scale upgrading works would depend on securing additional funding.

According to Chow, MBSP received RM99 million under Marris this year, significantly lower than its RM150 million request, and the entire allocation has already been committed to ongoing projects.

Meanwhile, Kumaran said discussions with the Village Community Management Council (MPKK) and councillors identified urgent infrastructure needs in the three areas, which include low-cost housing, commercial zones and two schools.

Residents have complained about uneven, potholed roads that have only received temporary patching due to limited funding, as well as inadequate drainage that has led to flooding during high tides, affecting homes and businesses.

MBSP has estimated the upgrading costs at RM1.965 million for Taman Mewah, RM1.415 million for Taman Bagan and RM2.63 million for Kampung Benggali.

Marris is a federal allocation provided to state governments for road maintenance, with its scope now extended to include the repair of drains and slopes.

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