Back in 2016, JPJ began their ‘Zero Pothole City’ target. How have they fared so far?
Malaysian road users are no strangers to potholes. Potholes have been the bane of road users, from causing traffic jams to bursting tyres and prematurely wearing out suspension and tyres. Some unfortunates have also been injured and sometimes even killed by accidentally driving or riding over potholes. The issue has been brought up to the government many, many times. Back in 2016, the Works Ministry set a 24 hour deadline for repairing reported potholes. In the same year, DBKL even declared that Kuala Lumpur would be a pothole-free city by 2017. Sadly, 5 years have gone past and this is still not a reality.
Nearly 2 years ago, JKR got a wake up call when Health Minister Khairy Jammaludin fell when cycling over a pothole near Kampung Seri Cheeding, Banting. Within hours, JKR tweeted an apology to the minister. Shortly after that, they renewed their ‘Aku Janji Zero Potholes’ promise and went about their business only for another motorcyclist to be killed riding over a pothole near Midvalley some months later.
Today, the situation is not much better. We do see more work being done on roads. This machine, for instance, was spotted doing roadworks.
It’s a 7.5 tonne machine for “Hot-In-Place Recycling” that repairs the road surface by melting it, scarring it, and adding a rejuvenating agent before compacting the recycled material to be resurfaced. This machine helps repair potholes, cracks and ruts in a short amount of time and at reduced cost.
There are also ways to report potholes (listed at the end of the article).
However, all the targets and big talk about a ‘Zero Pothole City’ is a just done for the sake of headlines. There still is no long term plan that will give the public an accurate timeline for this ‘Zero Pothole’ goal. Lots of talk of using technology to find potholes but no real action plan.
For now the stop-gap measures are at least there. The best we can do as citizens is to report any potholes.
HOW TO REPORT POTHOLES VIA WAZE
- When you see a pothole, have your passenger tap and hold down on the Reports icon.
- Holding down the Reports icon will offer three report types.
- While still holding down on the Reports icon, move your thumb to select Hazard.
- On the Hazard Menu, select hazard On road.
- Then select Pothole.
- Tap Send to share the report.
- Wait for the Selangor State Local Authority to patch the pothole within 5 days.
- Enjoy a smoother drive once the pothole is patched
Other ways to report potholes:
- http://aduan.jkr.gov.my/ or https://pcb.spab.gov.my/eApps/system/index.do?aplCode=en or https://kkr.spab.gov.my/eApps/system/index.do or https://www.malaysia.gov.my/portal/content/30044
- Call 03-2610-8888 or 03-2618-9000
- Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
- Visit or write to: Menara Kerja Raya (Blok G), Ibu Pejabat JKR, Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, 50480 Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur)
- Via the Respons Rakyat app on iOS or Android
