Potholes are posing a significant threat to motorists, particularly those who are unfamiliar with the area. - Photos LOW BOON TAT/The Star
RESIDENTS and business owners at Taman Mas in Sepang, Selangor are frustrated with the prolonged neglect of parts of Jalan Taman Mas.
In addition to potholes, they are now complaining about a section of the road that has been sinking for over a year.
Several accidents have occurred in the area, including one incident where a motorcyclist fell after hitting a patch of uneven road surface.
The lack of repairs and maintenance has led to concerns about the safety of pedestrians and motorists.
A pisang goreng seller, who wanted to be known only as Fatin, 35, recalled the incident of the motorcyclist getting injured due to the poor road condition.
She said an abandoned car had been parked at the spot for over a year since an accident occurred there.
Iskandar at the waterlogged part of Jalan Taman Mas in Sepang, Selangor. It has been that way for a long time without any solution in sight.
Initially, the car served as a makeshift warning to others of the sinking road until proper barriers were installed.
However, it is unclear if the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) had placed those barriers.
D’aman residence building manager Farah Izwani, 33, noted that no repairs had been undertaken since the floods in 2021.
“Despite witnessing contractors working at night on several occasions, no effort has been made to address the deteriorating road conditions,” she said.
Iskandar Parames Abdullah, a committee member of the Taman Mas residence association, stated that previous repairs were inadequate and emphasised the need for a permanent solution.
“We need a permanent solution rather than a temporary fix,” he said, adding that at least five accidents have occurred in the past two years.
He suspected underground water seepage caused soil erosion underneath the road, resulting in instability.
Iskandar suggested using appropriate road materials capable of withstanding overloaded heavy vehicles that frequently pass through the area.
Another problem is that the placement of plastic barriers to close part of the sinking road has reduced it to a single lane, resulting in severe traffic congestion.
“This is exacerbated by the road being used as an alternative route for motorists avoiding the Saujana Putra toll road,” he said, adding that this was mainly for residents of Saujana Putra, Bandar Rimbayu, Kampung Lombong and Taman Rimbayu.
MPSepang president Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain acknowledged the sinking road problem in Taman Mas and the council’s previous efforts to address it.
Various studies and technical assessments had been conducted, revealing that the site was formerly a mining area with limestone formations, he said.
Abd Hamid added that the ground of soft clay settled under heavy loads which caused deterioration and damage to the sewerage system beneath.
He added that despite ongoing road resurfacing and maintenance works having been carried out, the sinking persisted.
“Over the years, MPSepang with Indah Water Konsortium (IWK), have undertaken numerous rectification works to address the problem including road base filling, road resurfacing, sewerage pipe relining, and embankments.
“In 2010, Kumpulan IKRAM Sdn Bhd conducted a comprehensive study, followed by a more recent study in 2020 by LR Two Consult Sdn Bhd,” he said.
These studies, he added, involved thorough technical assessments, including surface investigation, borehole sampling, ground penetrating radar tests, and CCTV examinations.
“Long-term solutions are currently in the planning including a raft foundation design for the road but the construction cost is expensive due to the rising cost of raw materials,” he said.
Abd Hamid said these measures aimed to address immediate concerns and prioritise the community’s safety and convenience.
“MPSepang is constantly implementing temporary measures, such as frequent road maintenance to mitigate impact on residents and motorists,” he added.
