Malaysian Public Works Department (PWD) or Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia (JKR) is a government department in Malaysia which constructs and maintain public infrastructure in Malaysia such as federal and state roads, government buildings, electricity, water and many more.
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History
For more than 100 years, Public Works Department (PWD) Malaysia touched many aspects of the nation's life. The department had provided infrastructure and conducive environment for living, working, playing, and praying. JKR built roads as a means of communications, and they have been the main catalyst in the socio-economic development of the country. JKR also supplied safe water and had contributed in building a healthy and progressive nation. Architecture has been playing a major role in the nation's building. Some buildings have been accepted as important landmarks in Malaysia and has enriched the Malaysian architectural heritage, and therefore JKR is proud to have contributed significantly in these development.
The initiation of PWD in Malaya
Public Works Department (PWD) was form in 1872 with Major J.F.A McNair as the first head of the organization. The events that lead to the formation of PWD began earlier than 1872 when the British East India Company - trading between England, India, and China - needed a safe station for refitting their ships. They found it in Penang. Penang was well positioned for their purpose. In 1786, they persuaded the Sultan of Kedah to give up the rights of the island to the company. They managed to get Penang in 1791 through a treaty. In 1825, through the Anglo-Dutch Treaty, Malacca reverted to the British in exchange for Bengkulu. Thomas Stamford Raffles, in 1819, entered into a treaty with Sultan Hussein and Temenggong Abdul Rahman giving the British the rights to establish settlements in Singapore. These three territories (Penang, Malacca, and Singapore) formed the Straits Settlement in 1826. Another reason that brought the British to settle in the region was because of the tin-rich and fertile cultivation land in many of the Malay States. The so-called Pangkor Engagement (1874) paved the way for the British influence in Malay States. During this year, they managed to make inroad into Perak, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan. They posted their Residents and Subordinate Officers to advice the Malay rulers. Later, Pahang also accepted this residential system of government. By 1896, the system was administered centrally with Kuala Lumpur as the seat of authority. The four states together with Kuala Lumpur was known as the Federated Malay States. Many buildings were built by PWD in Federated Malay States capitals Kuala Lumpur between 1896 to 1941 including Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Selangor Museum, Residency, King's House, Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur, and many more.
Post-independence projects
After Federation of Malaya achieved its independence on 31 August 1957. Many infrastructure have been built including Stadium Merdeka, Malaysian Houses of Parliament, Subang International Airport, Klang Gates Dam, Stadium Negara and many more.
List of JKR current infrastructures
- Federal roads
- State roads
- Rural roads
- Bridges
- Public hospitals
- Public schools
- Public government buildings
- Public mosque
- Military bases
List of JKR Departments
Infrastructures
Building
- General Building Works Branch
- Safety Works Branch
- Health Branch
- Education Branch
Structure & Specialized Engineering
- Environment Branch
- Architect Branch
- Electrical Branch
- Mechanical Branch
- Contract and Quantity Survey Branch
- General Works and Specialist Engineering Branch
