Ahmad cited the high cost involved as a significant factor in the decision to reconsider the project.

“The cost is too high, so we are probably not going to continue with the glow-in-the-dark lanes,” he told the Dewan Rakyat when winding up the debate for the ministry on the Supply Bill 2025 today.

He also said a pilot project featuring the glow-in-the-dark lanes which had been carried out in selected areas failed to meet the expectations of experts from the ministry.

“We ran tests, but it did not satisfy the experts from the ministry,” he said.

The first glow-in-the-dark road markings were installed in Semenyih, Selangor.

The pilot project, carried out on a 245m-stretch between Jalan Sungai Lalang and Jalan Sungai Tekali, initially garnered a lot of attention which then caused a few other states to begin their own trials.

In January, Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said a total of 31 roads in the state were identified for pilot projects using such technology as part of the state government’s efforts to improve the safety of motorists.

Previously, it was reported that works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the photoluminescent paint costs RM749 per sq m, significantly higher than the RM40 per sq m for conventional road marking paint.

This makes photoluminescent paint about 19 times more expensive.