Pothole causes meat seller serious injuries

Thursday November 13, 2008

A pothole in Bandar Mahkota Cheras, Kajang, has caused serious injuries to a meat seller.

Ng Chee Heng, 40, who lives in the township and makes his living there, fell from his motorcycle when he hit the pothole in Jalan Mahkota. The incident occurred at 3.30pm on Nov 6.

A dazed Ng was later carried to the side of the road by passers-by.

He sustained a gash on his forehead that required two stitches and had bruises on other parts of his body.

When asked if he was contemplating legal action, Ng said the party responsible for pipe works in the area could not be identified.

“The work has been going on for a month but we don’t know by who. I only knew the pothole was there after I reached the safety cone placed in front of it but there was no time to stop,” he said.

Bandar Sungai Long Residents Association secretary Jeff Tung said residents of the neighbouring townships were not against development but wanted the parties responsible in digging up the roads to have regard for public safety.

“We are clueless as to who these contractors work for.

“Pipes and cables are being laid in the area without prior notification to residents and the potholes are only covered after residents have complained numerous times.”

Bandar Mahkota Cheras Section 4 Residents Association pro tem committee chairman Fok Ah Chai said there was no point in placing safety cones next to the potholes.

“Road users need to be warned earlier. Then there is the shoddy re-surfacing where the road slowly sinks and becomes uneven.”

Motorcyclists are prone to skidding on Persiaran Mahkota, as they approach the traffic lights junction heading out of Bandar Mahkota Cheras.

Large amounts of gravel on both sides of the road were seen during the media visit.

Tung said local authorities should instruct contractors to display signs for road, pipe and cable works because safety cones alone were insufficient and cannot provide the relevant information.