JKR launches three strategic initiatives to boost sustainability, digital transformation

Nanta (second right) officiating the pH JKR Day 2026 programme at Kuala Lumpur on July 14, 2026. Source: Alexander Nanta Linggi/Facebook

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 14: The Public Works Department (JKR) has launched three strategic initiatives representing important steps towards strengthening governance, standardising best practices, accelerating digital transformation, and enhancing the effectiveness of implementing the nation’s sustainability agenda within the infrastructure sector.

In a Facebook post, Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, who launched the initiatives at the Green Rating (pH) JKR Day 2026 programme in Kuala Lumpur today, said that the three initiatives are the JKR Sustainable Development Policy, the JKR/SIRIM Standard 2:2025 for JKR Building pH, and the e-pH JKR System.

“As the world faces the challenges of climate change and the demands of future development, sustainability is no longer an option—it is a responsibility that must be embedded in every stage of project planning and implementation,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a news report from Utusan Malaysia, Nanta, who is also Kapit MP, said that the country’s development must now be anchored on sustainability principles as the world faces challenges such as climate change, rising global temperatures, weather-related disasters, and increasing pressure on natural resources.

He said sustainability is no longer merely an added value in development projects but must instead become the foundation of every stage of planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of government assets.

“Sustainability is no longer an option, nor is it merely a complement to development. It is a responsibility that must become a fundamental principle in every aspect of planning, design, construction, maintenance, and the operation of government assets,” he said.

He added that as the country’s principal technical agency, JKR is not only responsible for constructing roads, bridges, government buildings, and various public facilities, but also for ensuring that every asset developed meets the highest standards of safety, quality, efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.

He said the government aims to deliver development that is not only completed on schedule but also leaves a legacy for future generations.

“We do not merely want to complete projects on time. We want to build a legacy that can endure across generations,” he said.

Alexander added that implementing stronger standards would improve the quality of development projects and, in turn, enhance public confidence in the government’s service delivery.

He expressed hope that more government projects, local authorities (PBTs), and private sector developments would adopt JKR’s green rating standards in the future to ensure the country’s development meets international benchmarks.

“I hope that more projects will comply with the standards that we have established,” he said. — DayakDaily