The Delhi High Court has stayed proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed against Sudarshan TV and its editor Suresh Chavhanke in connection with allegations that his channel made false accusations against a madrasa. The case against Chavhanke was filed by Mohammed Tufail Khan
China said on Sunday (August 23, 2026) it was postponing its planned ambitious Chang'e-7 lunar mission, which was set to carry out explorations including searching for water ice on the moon. The Chang'e-7 spacecraft was originally set to lift off in the coming days from the Wenchang Space Launch
Canada’s Carney Puts His ‘No Deal Is Better Than a Bad Deal’ Doctrine to the Test The prime minister ’s approach has broad support from the Canadian public and his political opponents, but it isn’t without risks. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:05:27 IST WSJ Prefer HTon Google Share via
A group of former cricket captains, including Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and one of England's longest-serving skippers Sir Alastair Cook, have called on Pakistan to ensure its ex-PM Imran Khan be given proper care while in custody. The cricketer-turned-politician has been in jail since
Fewer than 20 commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz at the weekend, shipping data showed on Monday (August 24, 2026), as Iranian and U.S. blockades restrict traffic through the chokepoint for energy shipments. Four vessels crossed the strait on Sunday (August 23, 2026)
Malaysia’s Glowing Roads That Promised No Streetlights – Here’s Why It Failed
What Was Malaysia’s Glowing Roads That Could Replace Streetlights; Why It Ended In Stunning Failure?
Malaysia tried to replace streetlights with glow-in-the-dark roads to save lives, but an unexpected problem shut the experiment down.
Kuala Lumpur: An experiment lit up the imagination of drivers and policymakers at Semenyih in Malaysia. A 245-meter stretch of road was painted not with ordinary white stripes but with glow-in-the-dark photoluminescent paint. It absorbs sunlight during the day, glow at night and eliminate the need for electricity on rural roads plagued by poor lighting. The pilot project by the Public Works Department (JKR) aimed to provide a cost-effective solution to Malaysia's deadly nighttime driving record.
Initial reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Drivers reported significantly better visibility during heavy rain and fog, particularly in areas with no streetlights. Social media buzzed with praise for both the aesthetics and the potential to save lives in a country where traffic accidents claim over 6,000 lives annually.
But the glow dimmed quickly. By November 2024, Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan confirmed that the government would not expand the project.
Add Zee News as a Preferred Source
Glow-in-the-dark roads are not entirely new. Trials in the Netherlands and Japan have experimented with photoluminescent paint, often on short stretches or bicycle lanes. Malaysia, however, attempted something far more ambitious: replacing traditional lighting in rural areas where electricity access is limited.
Economic challenges quickly became apparent. According to official statements reported by Paul Tan's Automotive News, the specialised paint cost RM749 per square meter (roughly USD 158), nearly 20 times higher than standard white thermoplastic markings, which cost about RM40 per square meter.
Cost was not the only obstacle. Malaysia's humid and rainy climate exposed the paint's technical limitations. Engineers from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) raised concerns over durability, highlighting that photoluminescent coatings often degrade within 12 to 18 months in tropical conditions, according to the International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology.
Even Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi, who had praised the road markings in October 2023, acknowledged in a statement posted on Meta that implementation costs were “relatively high” and the long-term durability remained uncertain.
The public's excitement soon faded. Social media posts shifted from celebration to criticism. Citizens questioned government priorities, pointing to potholes, faded signage and poorly maintained roads.
“Ask your officers to drive during rain or at night, you will see the poor visibility, potholes and uneven roads. That is what causes accidents,” wrote one Meta user.
The backlash highlighted broader concerns in Malaysia's infrastructure approach. While innovation is valued, many citizens remain wary when costly pilot programmes appear to overshadow urgent maintenance needs.
Though Malaysia abandoned the glow-in-the-dark roads, research continues worldwide. At TU Delft in the Netherlands, scientists are developing next-generation luminescent paints with better weather resistance and lower production costs.
Japan's National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM) is testing similar applications in urban areas with high ambient light.
Despite these advancements, large-scale adoption remains rare. Even countries with the technical capacity and favourable conditions find photoluminescent roads economically challenging compared with LED streetlights, which offer durability, consistent illumination and easier maintenance.
Malaysia's experiment now serves as a cautionary tale for governments exploring infrastructure innovation. Ambition alone is not enough. Financial, climatic and real-world maintenance factors must be carefully considered before large-scale rollout. The glowing roads may have promised a futuristic solution for safer driving, but in practice, reality dimmed the glow long before the first electric-free night had ended.
Source: ZeeNews
Related Posts: Malaysia glow-in-the-dark roads, photoluminescent road paint, streetlight alternatives, Malaysian road safety projects, JKR glowing road experiment, Semenyih glowing road
India had asked the United States not to allow reporters to ask questions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France in June, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Saturday
9 hours ago
Former Australian captain Greg Chappell with the support of 20 other former international skippers appealed to the Pakistan Government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to provide ‘humane treatment and proper medical care’ for Imran Khan
12 hours ago
The shock resignation of Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran earlier this month has left corporate India's top job vacant. But finding his successor will be no easy task for the country's most revered conglomerate, whose sprawling $300bn empire spans Jaguar Land Rover and Air India as well as
12 hours ago
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian defended a memorandum of understanding with the United States as the best way out of a stalled war. Meanwhile, the new head of the Islamic Republic's top security body warned, in a more forceful tone, of retaliation if neighbouring countries support U.S
12 hours ago
Authorities in China have launched an investigation into reports of formaldehyde being used to preserve the freshness of cabbages for human consumption. Officials in the northeastern Hebei province confirmed that they had verified footage showing individuals dipping cabbages in a solution before
12 hours ago
Three newborns died after a fire that broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit of a government hospital in Maharashtra’s Amravati district in the early hours of Monday, PTI reported. The fire broke out at the Amravati District Women’s Hospital around 3
12 hours ago
Imran's party demands immediate cardiac care for him at Shifa International Hospital Imran's party demands immediate cardiac care for him at Shifa International Hospital Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 11:10:49 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Islamabad
12 hours ago
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s three-day visit to New Delhi in July 2026 for the India-Japan summit appears to have elevated relations between the two Asian countries into a fresh phase of strategic expansion. Ties had already undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade
12 hours ago
How well do COVID antivirals actually work? Not as well as we thought How well do COVID antivirals actually work? Not as well as we thought Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 11:11:50 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Sydeny, If you're aged over 70
12 hours ago
On Sunday, in a post on X, Wali said the audio contained "explosive evidence" and claimed that Brar admitted his gang had ordered Nijjar's killing, alleging that the assassination was driven by an inter-gang feud. Ottawa: Three years after NIA designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in
15 hours ago
Until recently, there would have been little to distinguish Vietnam's so-called Justice Tree from the hundreds of others lining the streets of Hanoi. Then the bouquets started piling up. It was here that former politician Nguyen Sy Cuong was driving his BMW in May last year when he veered into the
15 hours ago
Fast-fashion giant Shein says it plans to raise up to HK13.86bn (£1.3bn; $1.77bn) when its shares start trading on the Hong Kong stock market on 1 September. In a filing on Monday, Shein said it will offer nearly 280 million shares for between HK$47.60 and HK$49.50
15 hours ago
A fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire near Reno, Nevada, has forced about 42,000 people to evacuate, while another 45,000 have been urged to prepare to leave. The Hawk Fire has burned 15,040 acres, destroyed some homes and injured six people. Officials declared a state of emergency as the blaze
15 hours ago
Former Indian diplomat Navdeep Suri has raised concerns about the verification process under the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Suri, a retired Indian Foreign Services officer, went through the process in Punjab. It is among the 16 states where the voter roll revision is being
15 hours ago
A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 rattled eastern Japan, including the Tokyo area, early Sunday (August 23, 2026), injuring more than 20 people, most of them slightly, officials said. There was no danger of a tsunami. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency
1 days ago
Chinese humanoid robots broke records set by humans, including beating Usain Bolt’s 100-meter sprint world record, on the opening day of the Olympics-like World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday (August 22, 2026). More than 2,000 humanoid robots were participating in the event
1 days ago
One afternoon in 1907, a young accountant named Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman walked into the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science at 210 Bowbazar Street in Calcutta. Though he had a passion for the sciences, colonial India offered no stable careers in the field
1 days ago
Three first information reports were filed against 14 identified and more than 200 unidentified persons on Saturday in connection with clashes between the police and student protesters a day earlier, PTI quoted Ranchi Superintendent of Police Paras Rana as saying
1 days ago
Did an Amazon delivery guy assault a 71-year-old man in California? What we know about the attack and lawsuit A California lawsuit alleged that an Amazon delivery driver assaulted a 71-year-old man at an Elk Grove gas station. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
‘Pure evil’: Videos of mothers splashing water at their kids spark outrage amid Lindsay Clancy trial Social media videos of mothers throwing water at their children have sparked concerns amid Lindsay Clancy's trial. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
The sister of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday (August 22, 2026) filed a petition in the Supreme Court, accusing the government and senior officials of violating the top court’s order to shift him to a private hospital for medical examination and treatment
1 days ago
The United States and Canada have entered into uncharted territory. The longtime allies and economic partners, who have enjoyed free trade for decades, are now in an escalating trade war with no clear off ramp. And for Prime Minister Mark Carney
1 days ago
Harrisburg weather update: Special Weather Statement issued for central Pennsylvania as thunderstorms bring 40mph wind NWS has issued a Special Weather Statement for Harrisburg and surrounding parts of central Pennsylvania. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
The police in Maharashtra’s Latur have registered a first information report against Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign, for allegedly entering a government school without permission, threatening teachers and defaming the institution
1 days ago
The United States and Iran exchanged defiant messages ahead of Monday’s (August 24, 2026) scheduled announcement of new U.S. economic sanctions that could impact the Islamic Republic and Tehran’s most important trading partners including China
1 days ago
Fourteen people were killed in military air strikes at a monastery in Myanmar early on Friday, opposition fighters and a local rescue worker have said. All of those killed were elderly and a number of monks were also injured, the rescue worker told BBC Burmese, adding that the site was struck twice
1 days ago
The Armed Forces Tribunal on Thursday upheld an administrative censure for a brigadier who was commanding a sector of the Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district in December 2023 when three civilians died during an interrogation following a militant attack
1 days ago
