KUALA LUMPUR: The public must comply with road closure signs to avoid road mishaps, the Works Ministry has urged.
This is following an accident where a couple died when their vehicle plunged into a ravine along a closed section of Jalan Kuala Jeneris-Sungai Gawi-Aring (Bukit Kawah) in Terengganu.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (pic) 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 motorists due to a landslide.
“The closure was supported by visible warning signs and barriers,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Nanta said the road closure was gazetted under Section 70 of the Road Transport Act 1987 and was monitored by the Public Works Department and its maintenance concessionaire.
“It is important to abide by 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 onto the closed route and information on the landslide is available on the ministry’s official portal as well.”
Nanta announced that the ministry, via the Public Works Department, received approval for RM36mil on March 25 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,” he said.
The victims of the accident on Friday evening at KM52 of Jalan Kuala Jeneris-Sungai Gawi-Aring (Bukit Kawah) were soon-to-be married couple Hassan Shazali, 52, and Suzaimah Che Azis, 34. They had met at SK Lebir in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, where he taught and she ran the canteen.
Suzaimah sister, Siti Azliana Che Azis, 33, who spoke to Sinar Harian, said her sister was excited about the wedding preparations, including choosing black as the theme.
“Each of us siblings wanted to sponsor part of the wedding but our plans have been crushed.
“My sister’s wish was for all of us to wear black, including the cake being black.
“The clothes that were supposed to be worn at the wedding will now be used at the funeral,” she said.
Suzaimah’s mother Fauziah Mahmud, 58, said she was the seventh of her eight children and was a divorcee with three children aged 15, 12 and seven.
“The groom’s side was scheduled to come to our place for their engagement ceremony on Dec 20, while the wedding was planned to take place five days later.
“She would usually inform me of her travels, but this time she did not, and I later found out that there was a wedding dress in the car.
“Maybe they went to Terengganu for wedding preparations,” she said.
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 (SUV) entered the closed stretch, skidded and plunged into a 200-ft ravine.
Both victims were thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were sent to Hospital Hulu Terengganu’s forensics unit.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
