KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry has urged the public to comply with closure signs after a couple died when their vehicle plunged into a ravine along a closed section of Jalan Kuala Jeneris-Sungai Gawi-Aring (Bukit Kawah) on Friday (Dec 5).
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, stressing that all agencies had implemented preventive measures, including closing the road and placing warning signs and concrete barriers at the site.
According to Hulu Terengganu’s Public Works Department, the accident involved a public vehicle entering a road that was completely closed to all users due to a landslide. The closure was supported by visible warning signs and barriers.
Alexander said the road closure was gazetted under Section 70 of the Road Transport Act 1987, covering part of Federal Highway FT36 from Section 55.60 to Section 139.30, and was monitored by the Public Works Department and its maintenance concessionaire.
He emphasised the importance of following safety instructions and closure signs to prevent further incidents.
Immediate action was taken after the accident, with additional warning signs and barriers installed in both directions.
A police report has been lodged regarding encroachment on the closed route, and information on the landslide is available on the ministry’s official portal.
Alexander also announced that the ministry, via the Public Works Department, received approval for RM36mil on March 25 this year to construct a bridge along Jalan Aring 8–Tasik Kenyir–Kuala Jeneris in Hulu Terengganu.
Procurement is underway and an acceptance letter is expected in the fourth week of December.
The victims, who were planning to marry on Dec 25, were identified as Hassan Shazali, 52, a teacher at SK Lebir from Kampung Menanti, Melor, Kelantan, and Suzaimah Che Azis, 34, a canteen worker at the same school from Gua Musang, Kelantan.
Hulu Terengganu district police chief Supt Sharudin Abdul Wahab said the couple were travelling from Hulu Terengganu towards Gua Musang when their sport utility vehicle entered the closed stretch, skidded and plunged into a 200-foot ravine at Kilometre 52.
Both victims were thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were sent to Hulu Terengganu Hospital’s forensics unit for post-mortem.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
