QuickCheck: Is the Gerik-Jeli route closed due to the floods?

There are claims that the Gerik-Jeli route is closed following the floods that hit Malaysia’s east coast. Is this true?

Verdict

False

According to the Gerik district police, the news is false and Jalan Raya Timur Barat that connects the two areas is passable to all vehicles.

The Gerik district police headquarters urged the public not to believe in unverified news and to always obtain information from the relevant government agencies.

Road users are however advised to be careful when passing through Jalan Kupang-Gerik-Jeli of Jalan Raya Timur Barat, after the Banding Fisheries Centre in Gerik suffered cracks and sedimentation due to a landslide on Dec 19.

Perak Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun had said the incident occurred at about 6pm on Jan 4 involving the FT004 stretch at Section 158.60 on the right side of the road about three kilometres from the fisheries centre, Bernama reported.

He said the Traffic Management Plan (TMP) has been implemented at the affected road and only one lane on the route is open to enable vehicles from both directions to continue their journey to their respective destinations.

"Personnel from the Public Works Department and the road concessionaire have been stationed at the location to control the traffic,” he said.

Mohd Zolkafly said new soil movements have been detected at the location and as a temporary measure, the collapsed slope area has been covered with canvas sheets.

He said works to widen the road shoulder had also been implemented to divert traffic to a safer route.