Heavy traffic expected over long weekend

JOHOR BARU: Heavy traffic is expected at major roads and highways in the state due to the long weekend break in conjunction with the first day of Ramadan and Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar’s birthday today.

State police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said they would deploy officers and personnel to ensure a smooth travel for road users in the coming days.

“We expect people, especially Muslims, to travel back to their home towns to mark the first day of Ramadan with their loved ones.

“Besides the traffic personnel, we will also be deploying personnel and officers from other departments and police stations to help ease congestion along major roads and highways during this period,” he said yesterday.

He urged those who would be away during the long weekend to inform the nearest police station.

Comm Kamarul Zaman also said that police would be deploying their men at bazaars and on roads throughout the fasting month.

The state government had declared a replacement holiday on March 26 if the first day of Ramadan falls on Sultan Ibrahim’s birthday, which is today.

Johor state secretary Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani said March 23 (today) would be a public holiday.

“If the beginning of Ramadan, which is also a public holiday for Johor, falls on the same date, the state government has agreed to declare March 26 as a replacement holiday in accordance with Section 3 of the Holidays Act,” he said earlier.

Johor has always marked the first day of Ramadan as a public holiday.