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- He said the conditions include proving the funding source, submitting environmental, social and traffic impact assessment reports, and securing approvals from the state government and local councils.
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 12): The 55-year West Ipoh Span Expressway (WISE) concession hasn’t started nearly two years after being awarded because concession holder East Coast Road Sdn Bhd (ECRSB) is still meeting required conditions, according to Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
WISE is meant to reduce traffic at Menora Tunnel on the North-South Expressway.
Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat during the oral question-and-answer session on Tuesday that ECRSB has until Sept 5 this year to meet the prerequisites, but the ministry is authorised to extend the deadline by up to 12 months if necessary.
He said the conditions include proving the funding source, submitting environmental, social and traffic impact assessment reports, and securing approvals from the state government and local councils.
“The concession will only take effect once all conditions precedent are fulfilled,” Ahmad said.
The deputy minister said that the land acquisition process — governed by the Land Acquisition Act 1960, under Sections 4 and 8 — will only start after the concession takes effect.
“The ministry and the Malaysian Highway Authority will facilitate the land acquisition process,” he said. “Once land acquisition is completed, construction can begin.”
Ahmad assured that the ministry will closely monitor the project to ensure timely completion.
WISE will span 60.88 kilometres from Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar. The Cabinet approved the project in December 2023, and the concession agreement was awarded to ECRSB in September 2024.
According to Ahmad, WISE is estimated to cost RM4.513 billion, with land acquisition — involving about 1,600 lots — projected at RM618 million. Construction is expected to take about four years.
The Edge Malaysia weekly reported in February 2025 that the project is facing problems because ECRSB is being sued for RM12.15 million by land surveyor AJ Surveyors (M) Sdn Bhd over unpaid bills.
East Coast Road is 52.85% owned by Any Arope Zainal Abidin and 10.7% by Ahmad Sahill Zainal Abidin. Meanwhile, Zurich Headquarter Sdn Bhd, which is majority owned by Any Arope, holds 22.78% equity interest in East Coast Road. Another shareholder of East Coast Road is Zurich Capital Sdn Bhd, with a 13.76% stake.
Zurich Zainal Abidin is the largest shareholder of Zurich Capital with 40% equity interest, while the remaining 60% is held by Ahmad Sahill and Zulykha Zainal Abidin.
Meanwhile, businessman Datuk Seri Siew Mun Chuang is a substantial shareholder of Zurich Infrastructure, with a 13% stake, according to a search with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).
The company’s largest shareholder is Ahmad Sahill with a 48% equity interest, followed by Any Arope with 28.6%.
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