Works Minister Scheduled To Meet Concessionaire Over Fatal Johor Pothole Accident

Following a recent tragic accident on the Jalan Sengkang-Felda Inas-Bandar Tenggara in Johor, where two siblings lost their lives after their vehicle struck a pothole, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has announced that he is taking the matter very seriously.

In response to the fatal incident, the minister has scheduled an urgent meeting with representatives from the concessionaire responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the road.

Reports indicate that the concessionaire was reprimanded and directed to immediately repair the road, which has since been completed. Despite this, Alexander stated in a Bernama report that additional measures must be taken beyond reprimanding the concessionaire to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

“I urge them to take this case as a lesson so that we can prevent such incidents in the future...they must conduct more frequent and detailed monitoring as well as repair damaged roads and potholes.

“...so let’s see what can be done besides issuing a reprimand. We must comply with the agreement, and the contract (with the concessionaire) cannot be terminated immediately,” he told reporters after the Handover Ceremony of the Letter of Acceptance (SST) and the Letter of Appointment of the Project Superintendent Officer here today.

Previously, The Star reported the terrible death of two brothers, aged 17 and 16, who were on their way to school when their motorbike hit a pothole on Jalan Sengkang - Felda Inas - Bandar Tenggara in Kluang, Johor, causing the motorbike to swerve and the victims to tumble onto the road. Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi stated that Federal road concessionaires must temporarily patch damaged roads within 24 hours and permanently patch them within 3 days, as required by the Public Works Department's (JKR) asset maintenance policy.