BY: Aida Aziz
IPOH: Several severely potholed roads in Taman Tawas Mewah near Klebang pose life-threatening risks, with residents urging the authorities to take immediate action to prevent further accidents at a nearby four-way junction.
Residents have voiced their frustrations, stating that these long-standing issues demand urgent attention. They also highlighted the need for speed bumps at the junction to mitigate the frequent accidents.
According to a resident representative, Ashamuddin Puteh Salin, 66, the damaged roads on Jalan 1, 7, and 8 pose significant risks, especially to school students who rely on these roads for their daily commute.
“These roads were dug up for sewerage and water pipe works for a new housing project but were poorly resurfaced afterwards,” he said.
“Many parents use Jalan 7 to send their children to school, and the deep potholes here have caused students to fall off their motorcycles.
“When cars and motorcycles pass each other, riders often have to swerve to avoid the holes, risking accidents. The situation worsens during pre-dawn and dusk hours when visibility is poor, especially in rainy conditions.
“Patching the holes has proven ineffective as they quickly deteriorate again. We need better-quality, long-lasting road resurfacing,” Ashamuddin added.
He also pointed out that heavy trucks transporting stone and cement worsen the road conditions. Despite lodging complaints with the local authorities, he claims that no significant response has been received.
Another resident, Shoiad Ibrahim, 63, said the potholes directly in front of his home are a persistent problem.
“Although the authorities have patched the holes, the poor quality of the work causes them to break apart, leaving even deeper potholes,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, Ng Yan Chun, 75, stressed the need for speed bumps at the busy four-way junction leading to Taman Tawas Mewah.
“The junction connects major routes to Kampung Seri Klebang, Meru Raya, and Gunung Lang. It’s extremely congested during peak hours, and the absence of road markings and speed bumps makes it dangerous. Accidents happen here all the time,” he said.
Ng also noted that residents have requested speed bumps since 2022, but no action has been taken.
Ashamuddin reiterated his hope for a swift resolution to these issues.
“Please take decisive action to ensure quality and durable repairs. We want to avoid accidents and prevent potential loss of life.
“With property assessment rates set to increase soon, we hope the authorities will also improve their service standards for the benefit of residents,” he said.
