PORT KLANG: The Association of Malaysian Hauliers (AMH) has urged the government to urgently upgrade the main route leading to Port Klang, citing rise in fatal accidents due to worsening road condition.
Lebuhraya Pulau Indah (FT 181), the main route to Port Klang, is under the supervision of federal government agency, Public Works Department.
“Everyday, thousands of cargo transporters are using the main route leading to Port Klang's Westport and Northport to meet tight delivery deadlines. Rising deaths and crippling injuries from road accidents is hurting the logistic business sentiment," AMH president Nazari Akhbar said.
Last year alone, two security guards riding motorcycles to work in Westport were killed near the access road to Westport due to the poor road condition and lighting. Selangor Container Drivers Association have reportedly dubbed the main route to Port Klang, FT 181, as a 'death road' in view of rising fatal accidents.
In a recent interview with Business Times here, Nazari said AMH supports Selangor Container Drivers Association's proposal for the federal government to build dedicated motorcycle lane throughout FT 181.
"The route along FT 181 is too narrow. There is no motorcycle lane. Sometimes our drivers might not be able to avoid the motorcyclists along the narrow road and this poses grave danger to all road users," Nazari said.
"We're also losing business due to traffic jams that dragged our turnaround time. Many of our members are not able to meet tight delivery deadlines and have had to close shop," Nazari said.
"Due to years of neglect and lack of upgrade, road conditions to the seaports are worsening. There are no proper street lights and the pothole-riddled road's white lines are fading. These are serious threats for fatal accidents and massive traffic build-up on a daily basis,” he said.
AMH members, which represent 70 per cent of hauliers in the country, own some 13,000 trucks, moving cargo in and out of seaports. Currently, Port Klang is ranked twelfth largest container port in the world.
Also present at the interview were AMH deputy president Soo Chee Yeong, vice president R. Visnu, vice president M. Nagalingam, council member Judy Chong and executive secretary Mohd Hanif Abdul Ghani.
Soo pointed out that the government should also build a layby for emergency stops along the road leading to Port Klang for trucks, trailers and lorries which had broken down.
Apart from road users' safety, there is an urgent need to upgrade the roads in Port Klang in tandem with trade expansion. Poor road conditions and traffic flow is causing many wasted hours as vehicles crawl as snail's pace in and out of Port Klang.
“There has not been much improvement to the infrastructure since its development in the 1980s, though the port’s trade volume has grown by 20 times since then,” Soo said.
"Our drivers used to be able to do four or five trips a day in and out of Port Klang. Now, with the congested situation along FT 181, many of our trucks are crawling and sometimes, idling for hours. Every hour of idling burns two litres of diesel. This is very bad for business," he added.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbJ_l0z7yAk&feature=youtu.be