An urgent open letter to Malaysian Highway Authority

At around 1.30pm today my wife and I were caught in a massive traffic jam (from Km237 to Km232 along the North-South Expressway because of the landslide at Bukit Berapit which is just after the former Hanjoong Cement factory on the right side if we are going northwards.

While inching our way, we noticed 3 traffic policemen on their motorbikes and 3 ambulances sped past us. At the time, we did not know what happened but noticed some trucks unloading earth just north of the cement factory. We also noticed a few vehicles on the old road parked and my wife noticed there were no passing vehicles. As we approached nearer the scene, we saw an excavator clearing earth already covering the whole of the old road with a tipper truck, which was already turned on its side by the force of the landslide. We noticed a number of makeshift tents with police and other personnel and the ambulances waiting for just in case there were any persons buried under. There was a helicopter hovering above too.

On our return journey, before we joined the NSE at Changkat Jering, I suggested to my wife to call Plus to enquire whether the road is clear and the person confirmed it was. At the toll entrance we noticed additional booths for payment and unusual number of vehicles. The number of vehicles at the entrance booth and the expressway until Bukit Gantang service area appeared normal but we got a shock when we were again caught in another massive jam. Soon after, we heard over Mix Fm that one lane of the southbound NSE is still closed which explained the no improvement in traffic flow. My wife had earlier wanted to avoid the expressway by going back via Bruas and was fuming that Plus had given a totally different traffic situation from Mix Fm.

Just outside Bukit Gantang service area, we saw a Toyota Camry and a Ford saloon with their boots smashed in, and a Jabatan Bomba Pajero with its front left mudguard smashed in. Initially, we were puzzled as to how the accidents could have happened when there was a massive traffic jam. Then I remembered another accident in January which to me, was caused by the lack of warning of road obstruction along the expressway and the high speed of vehicles which could not brake in time.

In January, while we were travelling northwards along NSE, at Km176 which was just before the exit to Bandar Baru Serdang, there was an earlier accident involving a trailer and the road was covered with white liquid. We were travelling along the fast lane and I had to stop suddenly because the whole expressway was suddenly closed off for clearing the white substance. I had to quickly put on my hazard light to warn those vehicles travelling fast behind me! At the time I was annoyed at the totally irresponsible manner the workers were carrying out their work. A few hours later, on our return journey southwards, I saw another trailer and some cars involved in a pile-up just before the place where the trailer was still stuck on the expressway. I honestly believe the second accident was due to the lack of warning of the obstruction and again the high speed of vehicles which could not brake in time. This has happened so often that I felt guilty for not highlighting the matter so that the relevant authorities could do something to prevent recurrence.

I have also noticed the lack of coordination in putting out information to the motorists, for example, the differing news from the radio station and that given by the Plus call centre. By the time we got caught again when we joined at Changkat Jering, prompt information and action to prevent vehicles from joining the already jammed expressway would have saved a lot of time and fuel. Perhaps, Plus was too concerned with the loss of income if they were to provide such efficient service!

By the time we reached the site of the landslide (jammed from Km 226 to Km232), we saw some workers washing the road using water from a tanker, which caused the one lane closure and many people hanging around in obvious discussion over the incident. Now the question I wish to put forward is why the urgency in washing when there was still a massive traffic jam? To make matters worse, the northbound traffic was jammed from Km232 to Km239 even though both lanes were open and there was no police to ensure the vehicles move along instead of looking at the site!

Ideally, the whole expressway should have electronic signs to warn motorists of any obstruction or other relevant information like alternative routes to take. But in the meantime, Plus should have been pro-active in helping motorists instead of avoiding loss of revenue which a prompt and decisive action would entail. With today’s technology of mobile phones and computers, it is within their capability.