PETALING JAYA: Driven by a mission to make the roads safer, a nationwide movement called Brotherhood is filling potholes at night using their own money and proceeds from merchandise sales to prevent accidents and save lives.
With 48 volunteer bodies across all states, the movement was founded by Azlan Sani Zawawi, who started filling potholes after losing more than 10 friends from the motorcycling community to road accidents.
Popularly known as Lando, he said their deaths prompted him to take action beyond conventional road safety campaigns.
His actions in 2007 inspired others to join in and the volunteer groups, acting on complaints, now fill potholes at their own initiative late at night.
“We come from all races and cultures. There is no registration – you just have to show up with a sincere intention in your heart. We also have volunteers and supporters in Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia.”
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Before turning to pothole repairs, Lando had organised two road safety campaigns: the internationally oriented DrMoto Road Safety Campaign, and the Lans Corporal Mamat Roda Roda KL Road Safety Campaign, which covered the entire peninsula.
Both campaigns focused on educating road users.
However, Lando said accidents continued to occur, prompting him to investigate their causes.
Convinced that road conditions required greater attention, he began filling potholes himself.
The volunteers use a special cold mix asphalt and bitumen membranes which are then impacted into the holes.
For Lando, however, the underlying question remains: If substantial public funds are allocated to road maintenance, why do dangerous potholes continue to threaten road users?
“We all have jobs and a responsibility towards our families,” he said, arguing that the time, money, and risks involved should be borne by those paid and entrusted to maintain the roads.
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He said it is high time for clear institutional accountability.
“We volunteers can raise awareness and report dangerous road conditions, but proper repairs require suitable materials, technical expertise, and traffic safety measures. Unauthorised work can also create additional risks if it does not follow appropriate engineering standards.
“Road maintenance authorities and their appointed contractors must ensure defects are addressed promptly and repairs meet the required standards.
“An effective reporting system, regular inspections and transparent oversight are essential to protecting road users,” said Lando.
Brotherhood member Muham-mad Azizi Abdul Manab, 36, lost his left leg in 2012 due to a car trying to avoid a pothole.
“I consider myself a pothole victim. I joined the Brotherhood as I want to open the eyes of the authorities that there are many pothole victims out there.”
For Mohamad Hapis Md Rasol, a pothole at KM34 Lebuhraya Pasir Gudang, Johor, killed his sister, Nurul Ain, five years ago.
Nurul was riding pillion with a friend when they hit a pothole.
