SHSH ALAM: Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said yesterday that all road maintenance and construction work, especially along federal roads, must stop temporarily from Sept 29.

This was to avoid traffic congestion ahead of Hari Raya, he said at the breaking of fast at his residence here.

He also gave aid to 100 orphans and 30 single mothers.

"I don't want to see steamrollers or bitumen scrapers by the roadsides during the period," he said and added that the stop-work order would take affect until Oct 10.

Zin also hoped the highway concessionaires would ensure smooth traffic flow near rest and service areas along the expressways, with people taking a break from their long journey home.

The local authorities in small towns like Bidor in Perak and Masjid Tanah in Malacca should also ensure the traffic lights were functional to minimize problems caused by increased traffic, he said.

To motorcyclists, especially students in higher learning institutions, he advised them to be careful when using then highways to return home.

Zin said the government was concerned with the safety of motorcyclists and would build or repair motorcycle lanes in stages at a cost of RM350 million.