Temporary lighting needed, DBKK tells PWD
Published on: Tuesday, March 07, 2023
By: Sidney Skinner
City Hall staff did not see any other streetlights along the slope which led to the Sulaman Sentral Commercial Centre.
City Hall (DBKK) has called on the Public Works Department (PWD) to address the problems caused by the lack of illumination on Jalan Pintas Sulaman Sentral, in Manggatal, as most of the existing streetlights have been taken down to accommodate efforts to widen the main road nearby.The PWD is presently overseeing a federal project to upgrade the section of Jalan UMS leading to the Indah Permai area.
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A City Hall spokesman said personnel from its Electrical Section had pointed out the potential traffic hazards – which could arise because the stretch to the Sulaman Sentral Commercial Centre would be largely unlit – months before the project began.
“We appealed to the Department to have temporary lighting put up in places along Jalan Pintas Sulaman Sentral and were assured that its concessionaire would do this during the co-ordination meeting at the time,” he said.
City Hall staff did not see any other streetlights along the slope which led to the Sulaman Sentral Commercial Centre.
He said the PWD was reminded of its assurance during another meeting in February.
“We urged the Department to look into the possibility of having spotlights erected at strategic locations for the remaining duration of the project.
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“This may provide drivers with better night-time visibility.”
He said City Hall would formally request that steps be taken to make the stretch brighter for the safety of those who travelled to and from Sulaman Sentral regularly.
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“A letter to this affect will be sent to the Department. In the meantime, our staff will make periodic checks to gauge the extent of the public lighting on the road.”
The spokesman was responding to feedback from a shop-operator about the dangers of driving on Jalan Pintas Sulaman Sentral after dark.
The proprietor’s vehicle wound up in the drain one night after he veered off the road.
Electrical Section personnel observed the ongoing work to widen Jalan UMS nearby.
The motorist provided Hotline with the time and date of the incident which was forwarded to City Hall.
The spokesman said a team from its Electrical Section inspected Jalan Pintas Sulaman Sentral shortly after being contacted by the media.
“Our staff noted that there was only one streetlight at a bend in the road,” he said.
He said this amenity could not possibly illuminate the entire slope on which the stretch had been built.
“At least five to six lights – spaced out at regular intervals on the way up and down the road – are needed in order for it to be adequately lit at night.”
ABDUL of Manggatal had left the centre and was going down the incline, when his front tyre went in the drain.
“I had my ‘hands-free’ on and was caught up in a conversation at the time,” he said.
“I did not realise till it was too late that my car had drifted off the road.”
He had to call for a tow truck in order to free his car which sustained some damage as a result of this.
A City Hall contractor puts the finishing touches on the restored section of the roadside drain.
“The repairs cost me RM900. Thankfully, I did not wind up injuring myself but I might have been spared this unnecessary expense if I knew where the edge of the drain was.
Abdul called on the local authorities to attend to the road, including the drain, and to evaluate the night-time illumination in this area.
“They should do this before an accident occurs and someone comes to harm, or worse.”
The spokesman said action was taken to restore the affected section of the drain.
“A 50 metre length of the drain, which is about two feet deep, was reconstructed in December,” he said.
“Our contractor had the gaps ‘backfilled’ after this was done. He also graded the slope.”
He said the agency had been aware of the problems with the drainage, prior to learning about what happened to the driver.
“We suspect that the drain may have inadvertently been damaged when part of the slope was reclaimed at some point last year.”
He said the company which conducted the land clearing was officially queried about this several months ago.
“We are still waiting for the developer to respond to our letter.”
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