JOHOR BARU: The Works Ministry has stressed that all standard operating procedure (SOP) for road collapse repair works has been fully adhered to, including at KM52 of Jalan Kuala Jeneris-Sungai Gawi-Aring (Bukit Kawah).
Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said every safety-related SOP is mandatory to ensure road users remain cautious and fully aware of the risks in the affected area.
He said the concrete barriers and warning signs installed at the site were of a fixed, higher-standard type and not portable.
“That is our standard procedure whenever an incident occurs on the road. We put up all the necessary safety measures, including warning signs and barriers, to ensure road users exercise caution and remain aware of the situation at the affected location.
“Apart from the barriers, we also placed closure notices at every entry point to inform road users that the area was closed,” he said at a press conference during the National Technical Professions Day 2025 held here yesterday.
Also present were Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan, and state public works, transport, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, Bernama reported.
Nanta was asked about the latest developments regarding the landslide incident at KM52 of Jalan Kuala Jeneris-Sungai Gawi-Aring (Bukit Kawah).
Meanwhile, Nanta said repair works at the site could only begin now because the project required a substantial allocation of RM36mil, which was only approved in March this year.
“The area collapsed in November 2024, and the allocation was only approved in March this year. With that funding now in place, the contractor appointment process is underway, and repair works will begin soon,” he said.
When asked whether road-user negligence was a factor in the incident, he said the matter had been handed over to the police for further investigation.
“Let the police issue a statement regarding the element of negligence. The Public Works Department team is conducting its own investigation from a technical perspective,” he said.
On Dec 5, a soon-to-be-wed couple travelling in an SUV from Hulu Terengganu to Gua Musang were killed after their vehicle skidded and plunged 61m into a ravine at KM52 of Jalan Kuala Jeneris-Sungai Gawi-Aring (Bukit Kawah).
Police earlier said negligence is believed to have caused the incident, and inspections found that warning signs and concrete barriers at the location had been removed by irresponsible individuals.
