Sepang's dark and dangerous stretches of tarmac

Without street lights, the Jalan Besar Salak stretch near Kampung Jenderam Hulu is completely dark at night save for vehicle headlights.

TOUGH and fit, a punctured tyre was not a big deal for Zami Ambia who works for a catering unit at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Sepang.

However, fixing a flat tyre at night while his wife and nine-month-old son waited along Jalan Besar Salak (route B48) is something else altogether.

This happened along a dark stretch between a western grill stall in Kampung Jenderam Hulu and a car wash near Kolej Teknologi Timur in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi. Save for light from the headlights of passing vehicles, the road is enveloped in pitch darkness at night as there are no street lamps.

Luckily for Zami, a police patrol car spotted him and offered help. The police told Zami’s wife to wait in the car with her baby while Zami changed the tyre.

Under normal circumstances, the police officers would have left Zami alone, but the corner where he parked his car was at a curve. If not for the blue strobe lights of the police vehicle, road users would not have seen Zami.

“I use this route daily. The stretch here is windy. At night, it can be dangerous, especially for new drivers,” said Zami.

Abu Khairi who is a regular diner at Rizal’s food stall says even regular users have met with accidents here.  

He questioned why the authorities had not taken action to instal street lights as the 900m-stretch is the main thoroughfare for residents heading to Bangi, Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya and Nilai.

Kampung Jenderam Hulu resident Rizal Huzair, who operates a food stall along this stretch, said low visibility at night made it an accident-prone area and a potential magnet for criminal activity.

“I have seen four accidents here within a year. My home, which is nearby, was broken into between 2008 and 2009. The robbers used the darkness as a cover. I was tied up and they made off with RM20,000 worth of valuables,” said Rizal.

Kampung Jenderam Hilir resident Abu Khairi Ali, who is a regular diner at Rizal’s food stall, said even regular users had met with accidents here.

“The bends here are sharp. Driving at a speed of 60km per hour is enough to put you at risk during the day. Imagine the risk motorists take by using this road at night,” said Abu Khairi.

Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi resident and government officer Noor Eshah Yat, who wrote to Sepang Municipal Council’s (MPSp) official Facebook page to highlight the issue, said the Kampung Jenderam Hulu stretch was not the only place devoid of lighting.

There were several other areas, she said, starting from Southville City along the Jalan Banting Semenyih (route B31) to Jenderam which were without street lights.

A Google terrain map of the stretch marked in blue. 

An 800m stretch near Kampung Sungai Buah was also shrouded in darkness at night.

“I hope the Public Works Depart­ment (JKR) does an inventory of these roads so that they can take necessary action,” said Noor Eshah.

MPSp councillor Mohd Syahrul Amri Mat Sari, who is the Jenderam Residents Representative Committee (JPP) chairman, said applications for street lights were made to JKR Sepang as the B48 route was under its purview.

“Similar applications were made in the past, but we were told that they were waiting for budget approval for street lights,” said Mohd Syahrul Amri.

A new application was sent in this year and residents are hopeful of a positive outcome.

JKR Selangor Road Division senior engineer Zanuddin Hussin said a team was sent to inspect the dark stretch near Kampung Jenderam Hulu.

“We have proposed options to increase road safety here. The most ideal solution is to instal street lights, but that is subject to budget availability. If not, we will ask for amber lights and delineator posts to be installed at the stretch,” said Zainuddin.

Sepang OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Aziz Ali said he would raise the matter at the Sepang Disaster Management Committee meeting scheduled for next month.

For now, drivers are advised to exercise caution and refrain from speeding while driving along these dark stretches.