The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Contractors putting motorists at risk Posted: 25 Mar 2013 05:47 AM PDT For some time now I have noticed that the Malaysian public have been given a raw deal when it comes to public safety and convenience in respect of the many roadworks that are being carried out in various parts of the Klang Valley. The people who should be held accountable are the contractors responsible for the roadworks. If we look around the Klang Valley and beyond today, we see that many roadworks are being carried out by contractors who do not show much concern for the safety of the public and road users. Barricades have been put up, but outside the barricaded area, the road condition is in a highly deplo-rable state, with potholes left unattended. These contractors should be made responsible for patching up these potholes for the convenience and safety of road users. Furthermore, the barricades are not lighted up at night and during a downpour, driving can be risky. There are also inadequate signs or signals to alert motorists of the possible hazards when driving along roads where construction works are going on. The MRT construction activities that are now taking place in various parts of the city have also posed safety problems. The digging operations are the cause of underground burst pipes. There are also contractors carrying out road digging works for utility companies who are very shoddy in their temporary reinstatement works. To begin with, when roadworks commence, the contractor's workers tend to occupy as much of the road as possible. The work site is untidy and very often, warning lights are not installed at night. During the rainy season these work sites pose a danger to the public and accidents have occurred because of the lack of safety measures to warn motorists of the works in progress. What is most regrettable is after the cabling work has been completed, the temporary reinstatement is very poorly done giving rise to potholes and bumpy rides. While I appreciate the fact that MRT pipe and cabling works have to be done by the relevant companies to provide services to their clients and the public, what must not be overlooked is the responsibility of their contractors to put into practice good safety and health standards at their work sites in the interest of public safety and health. The time has come for all local authorities to tighten procedures to ensure that all roadworks by contractors are closely monitored and their work sites are clean, orderly and do not pose any danger to the public. TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE Kuala Lumpur |
| Time to act on abandoned projects in Seremban Posted: 25 Mar 2013 05:47 AM PDT I have read that my beloved Seremban town is going to be accorded city status sometime this year. Being born and bred in Seremban, also known as "Fuyong" in Cantonese, I don't think I would want to live anywhere else in Malaysia but my hometown. Seremban certainly has changed over the years. About 30 years ago, traffic jams in the town was unheard of. It is definitely not like what we are experiencing on a daily basis now. Furthermore, there is still a lack of parking spaces for both cars and motorcycles. The Seremban Municipal Council had better look into this problem before that big day. Also, so many "iconic" landmarks in town had disappeared due to the rapid development that the town experienced in the 80s. During my schooldays, many students used to travel by bus to and from school. The main bus terminal used to be located right in the centre of town next to the former Wearne Brothers building. The road leading into this bus terminal was so bad that if you were coming from out of town and fell asleep on the bus you would know you have arrived at your destination. Even our famous cartoonist Datuk Lat drew a caricature of the bumpy road in this bus terminal years ago. Another famous bus stand was the one located between the former Malabar restaurant and the North Post Office. It still serves as a bus stand till today. All the yellow buses belonging to the Seremban Town Service (STS) would commence and end their journey here. Back then, some hawkers would ply their trade around this bus stand, selling drinks and tidbits which were very popular with the schoolchildren. Also right in the centre of town, we had the Cameron Cafe and the Wong Kee Restaurant located along the former Cameron Street. I guess before the other newer restaurants sprang up, these two were the main venue for wedding receptions and the like. The Cameron Cafe was unique as it had a basement which serves as a coffeeshop while the restaurant was on the upper level. It was a wooden building built on concrete or wooden stilts. The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus school was another landmark in the centre of town that was demolished for development which turned out disastrously for the developer. Today, it is an abandoned project and the area resembles a disused mining pool. It is definitely an eyesore for those driving into Seremban town. However, before the authorities bask in glory on the city status issue, it has to do something about some of the abandoned projects within the town limits. One such abandoned project, which is in the way of the current development going on in the area, is the supposedly "budget hotel" located in front of the KGV school which is the site of the former SK Rahang. The relevant authorities are constructing a new flyover linking to another massive project being carried out on the KTM land. This abandoned project is definitely in the way of the road expansion project along Jalan Rasah. I wonder if there are any legislation which would allow the authorities to demolish abandoned projects if they stood in the way of development? MICHAEL NG Seremban |
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