GEORGE TOWN: Concerns over road safety along the East-West Highway will be raised at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (June 11), says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Although the highway falls under the Works Ministry's jurisdiction, Loke said that road safety is a collective responsibility.
"I will raise this matter in the Cabinet meeting to consider immediate steps to improve safety, particularly along the East-West Highway.
"Road safety is a serious issue that requires cooperation between ministries," he told reporters on Tuesday (June 10).
Loke said the discussion would cover various factors, not just the installation of road barriers.
"We won’t focus solely on road barriers. We will also examine overall road conditions and the lack of street lighting at night. We urgently need to implement drastic and immediate measures to prioritise road safety, especially on the East-West Highway," he said.
He said that the Transport Ministry will assist in installing solar-powered lights along the route to enhance night-time visibility.
Addressing the recent fatal accident in Tasik Banding, Gerik, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, Loke said various authorities, including the Road Transport Department (JPJ), are involved in the investigation.
He added that the Land Public Transport Agency has issued a show-cause letter to the bus company. They have requested data such as the vehicle’s GPS records to determine whether the bus was speeding, and an audit of the company is underway.
