AMID recurring complaints about stretches of road not repaired because they are “no man’s land”, road safety experts say jurisdictional gaps do not exist.
Road Safety Council of Malaysia executive council member Datuk Suret Singh said responsibilities were clearly defined, with federal, state and local council roads each falling under specific jurisdictions.
“There are very clear boundary lines. It is very clear who is in charge of what,” he said, dismissing the notion that certain stretches were left without oversight.
His remarks followed StarMetro’s report titled “Passing the buck on potholes”, which highlighted how jurisdictional overlaps among agencies could delay repairs and affect public safety.
The former Road Safety Department director-general said that even when responsibility appeared unclear, repairs should not be delayed.
“Agencies such as Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) can coordinate with the relevant authorities to ensure the road is repaired quickly.
“It is a matter of coordination and communication. A silo mentality is not acceptable.”
Reflecting on the past decade, Suret said complaints about poor patch-up jobs and substandard repairs had increased, with some contributing to accidents.
He urged the authorities to take a firmer stance against errant contractors.
“Bad contractors should be called out, penalised and even suspended.
“Their track records should be made public,” he said.
He proposed a centralised database of underperforming contractors to improve accountability.
He noted that many issues were linked to utility works and he called for stricter oversight.
He also addressed concerns about the complaints platforms − MyJalan app and Adu@KL website − that had discrepancies between system updates and actual conditions on the ground.
In some cases, complaints marked as “resolved” remained unaddressed on-site.
“This should never happen.
“When a system says an issue has been resolved, it must reflect reality,” said Suret.
He called for better verification, suggesting that platforms should allow users to speak directly to customer service representatives.
“Like banks, there should be an option to speak to someone.
“When it involves safety, there must be a way to verify that what is recorded in the system matches what is happening on the ground,” he said.
He added that stronger follow-up mechanisms were needed to ensure complaints, especially those involving potholes, were not prematurely closed.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) Road Safety Engineering and Environment Centre research officer Rizati Hamidun agreed that every road had a designated agency responsible for its maintenance.
“Confusion may arise in newly developed areas awaiting handover (of the road) and at jurisdictional boundaries.
“From a safety perspective, risks must be addressed promptly through cooperation.
“A shared responsibility approach is key to protecting road users,” she said.
Rizati stressed that compliance with technical standards was critical.
“Contractors play an important role, but they operate within frameworks of specifications, monitoring and approvals set by the relevant agencies.”
She said continuous monitoring, quality audits and the use of technology could strengthen compliance and improve effectiveness on the ground.
On whether a centralised database or blacklist of contractors was needed, Rizati said the mechanisms already existed.
“Road owners have control systems and contractor performance databases used in appointment and monitoring processes.
“Contractor selection is based on performance and technical capability to ensure quality delivery and safety,” she said.
However, she noted that improvements could still be made in governance, transparency and industry capacity.
