The Never Ending Potholes Stories In JB, Jalan Berlubang

Potholes In The Heart Of The City Causing Havoc For Motorist

JOHOR BARU: Scores of motorists using a ramp connecting Jalan Tun Razak to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex are driving through potholes despite remedial works by the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) .
To make matters worse, traffic in front of the Danga City Mall during peak hours is almost at a standstill.
When met by StarMetro, motorist S. Kumar, 32, said he was disappointed with the poor maintenance of the road.

A big hassle: Traffic is brought to a standstill for at least 1km during peak hours at the ramp from Jalan Tun Razak heading to the CIQ complex due to the road which is damaged and in bad condition.

“It is right in the middle of the city and the stretch should be strengthened with better quality bitumen as heavy vehicles plied the route to the CIQ,” he said.
Kumar, an angineer, said the Iskandar Malaysia project had resulted in heavier traffic along roads in the city.
Another motoris businessman Syed Abdul Rashid, 47, said the traffic snarls were getting very bad.
“I have complained in vain about it,’’ he said, adding that the Public Works Department and council should focus on repair works on Jalan Tun Razak, the Middle Ring Road and Jalan Tebrau.
Commenting on the issue, Mayor Mohd Jaafar Awang said shoddy patch-up work was only temporary measure.
“Maintainance of roads comes under the PWD’s jurisdiction and the council was only patching up the potholes as a short-term measure as it takes longer for the PWD to conduct repairs,” he said.
Mohd Jaafar said the council had three mobile Fast Action Units which went around looking for potholes and other maintenance problems.

Source: The Star - Thursday, March 31, 2010

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Iskandar project or not, potholes are permanent features on Johor road.

Raring for the massive Iskandar project and potholes lying low on all around JB roads not visible?
Many a time, potholes award trophy to road users, especially on their knees.
Minor injury to those walking, and major ones running on the road.
So, beware joggers!

A great wonder Johor Bahru, JB, is nicknamed Jalan Berlubang (Hole Road).
The city where potholes is a must!

I had blogged about it sometime ago.
It seems there is a pothole at every other kilometer that can cause a dent to your pocket, changing badly damaged rim and tires.

Matters are made worse during rain as potholes are covered with water.

Nobody can believe there is a housing estate, Taman Impian Emas (Golden Hope Garden. Marvellous name!) in Senai.
The road that leads to it, Jalan Kempas Lama, seems leading to nowhere, full of potholes and uneven surfaces.
Accident is prone when heavy rain, as cars and motorcyles weighing to avoid the muddled and muddy surface.

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This is a newspaper report, appeal from public to relevant authority.
It is about have been there for a long time pothole, not along Jalan Kempas Lama, but not far from the Larkin Market.

City Council Urged To Repair Pothole

The pothole in Jalan Langkasuka is causing distress to road users. — Picture by Bharuddin Sulong

MOTORISTS plying Jalan Langkasuka in Larkin, Johor Baru, are appealing to the Johor Baru City Council to repair a half-metre deep pothole in the middle of the road. The pothole, which appeared during the recent rainy season, has been slowing traffic down for the past two weeks.

The hole is a danger to unsuspecting motorists at night and to those who seldom use the stretch of road.

Motorist Mahusin Idris, 35, from Taman Abad, here, said those who had driven into the the hole had damaged their vehicles.
"Some of my friends had to fork out about RM300 to replace their bumpers which they said were damaged from the impact of crashing into the pothole."

Mahusin said motorists are fearful that the pothole may cause a fatal accident.

Mohd Darwis Hashim, 42, blamed the City Council's Quick Action Unit (UTF) for lack of alertness.

"I have urged the council to take immediate action before tragedy strikes," he said.

He said the pothole gives a bad image to the city as it is opposite Hotel Seri Malaysia.

Source: New Straits Times - February 13, 2011

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I wonder if indeed, the state ministers never encounter potholes?

I had seen many accidents, due to potholes factor.
Some motorists were caught offguard, especially when they are in congested areas. 
The road, choking with cars and bikes all over, especially peak period along Jalan Tebrau when workers are going to and from working in Singapore.

Suddenly new pothole, not the one familiar and permanent, appears from right beneath the car infront. Motorists cannot evade the pothole, as usually there are many on motorbikes behind them. 
Riding through the pothole - be safe, involve with an accident or ending up dead is their luck.
They have to be brave, bracing and preparing themselves for the impending jolt. 
Just pray hard that they will not be thrown off bike. 

"Q: Johor Baru is nicknamed Jalan Berlubang (JB) as it is riddled with potholes due to poor maintenance. What do you plan to do to overcome this?
A: MBJB has a special task force set up to deal with potholes and fallen trees. We cannot afford to go all out to curb the problem but the team can be mobilised when notified. It also does rounds at night to check on street lights. I promise to take immediate action when we get information from the public. I have told my staff to report any problems that they notice. They live in Johor Baru and are the best eyes and ears for the council. I have given my mobile number to my staff so that they can contact me when they find a problem. This is working as I am informed daily through SMS about potholes and traffic and street light not functioning..."

These are answers by Johor Bahru mayor Mohd Jaafar Awang when asked by The Star on February last year about potholes in JB. He had set his priorities to rid JB of its unsavoury image.
More of the questions and answers can be read here.

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I had even seen deaths, due to the irresponsibility of those responsible.  

Hairdresser Killed In Pothole Mishap

JOHOR BARU: A 36-year-old hairdresser was killed when she fell off a motorcycle which hit a pothole.
Lee Nyam Kan was riding pillion on a motorcycle ridden by her husband when the rear tyre punctured as it went over the pothole, causing both of them to lose balance and fall.

Lee: Flung from the bike she was on after it hit a pothole.

Lee, who was wearing a helmet, died of head injuries on the spot.
Lai Nyok Lim, a 48-year-old bus driver who works in Singapore, said he was sending his wife to work in Larkin when the accident occurred at Jalan Kempas Lama at 10.10am on Friday.
Lai sustained minor injuries on his left arm and leg. Lee was cremated on Sunday.
Lai, who has a six-year-old daughter, sought the assistance of Skudai assemblyman Dr Boo Cheng Hau on the matter.
Dr Boo urged the Johor Baru City Council and the Public Works Department ato seriously look into the matter, as this was not the first time a death had been caused by a pothole.
Johor Baru (North) deputy OCPD Supt Mohd Akhir Ishak said Lee died of head injuries and police are investigating the case under Section 41(1) Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving.
He said Lee’s helmet could have become loose and fallen off when she hit the ground.
He added that the pothole was less than a foot deep.
Two years ago, Tan Cheng Ming, 20, fell from his motorcycle and died later from head injuries after running over a pothole in Jalan Daya, Taman Daya on Aug 17.
On Feb 27 last year, Koh Siang Lee, 63, was badly injured when she fell through an uncovered manhole into a metre-deep drain during a Chingay parade. She died of her injuries nine days later.

Source: The Star - Wednesday, June 3, 2009

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Pothole That Cost A Life

Cheng Ming: Sustained head injuries upon landing

JOHOR: It cost a life to get a pothole patched up. Tan Cheng Ming, 20, was riding pillion on a motorcycle last Friday at 4am when the machine hit a pothole that was about as wide as a manhole and 5cm deep.
The impact caused Cheng Ming to be thrown off the motorcycle, and he sustained head injuries upon landing. He was rushed to the Sultan Ismail Hospital but died there.
His friend, Tam Tok Wei, 20, who was driving, escaped with minor injuries while the motorcycle was barely damaged except for some scratches and a bent front wheel.
Cheng Ming’s father, Robin Tan, said the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) patched up the pothole in Jalan Daya, Taman Daya, about two days after the accident.
“When there is a loss of life, only then will they act. We have to bring this up to the authorities, because we don’t want others to lose their loved ones, too.
“The street lights along that road are also not so bright as they are shaded by trees, so the rider might not have seen the pothole at night,” Tan told The Star.
The 53-year-old taxi driver said that with the exception of highways, many roads in Johor Baru are riddled with potholes.
Tan said they had started planning for Cheng Ming’s 21st birthday celebration next month when the accident occurred.
“Twenty years of love, and just like that, because of other people’s mistake, my son paid with his life,” he said.

Danger to road users: A photo of the pothole in Jalan Daya, Taman Daya in Johor Baru which the motorcycle Tam and Cheng Ming were riding hit last Friday.

Source: The Star - Friday, August 24, 2007

to be continued...