Saturday, April 6, 2013

Booby traps in Taman Kok Doh for the unwary


DANGER LURKS: Road users, including the elderly, are falling into uncovered drains in Jalan 17/42. GOH Seng Chong, 74, is a scavenger. He collects empty bottles and other recyclable items.
Early this year, while making his usual rounds in the late evening, he fell into one of the many uncovered drains in Jalan 17/42, Taman Kok Doh in Segambut. About 20 drain covers had been stolen on that stretch of road. Fortunately, he suffered only minor bruises. However, he isn't the only one to have fallen into a drain on that road. A woman in her 70s had broken a thighbone in a similar incident there.
"I often walk that route and I didn't realise that the drain was open. It was dark and I fell in," said Goh. "Luckily, I was able to climb out and the drain was not flooded otherwise I might have drowned or suffered worse injuries."
He said he had seen the thieves stealing the drain covers at night. He did not confront them because he was afraid. He hopes the authorities will realise the seriousness of the problem, which can cause deaths.
Restaurant owner, Tan Yee Hwg, 58, said City Hall had replaced a few of the missing metal drain covers with concrete slabs. However, most of the drain covers were still missing. "We saw City Hall officers measuring the drain covers here. We were hopeful that the missing covers would all be replaced. "To our surprise, only a few in Jalan 17/42 were replaced. We wonder why," he said. Fearing for road users' safety, Tan has placed wooden planks over some of the uncovered holes.
Segambut Member of Parliament Lim Lip Eng said the problem was persisting even after party representatives had lodged a complaint with City Hall.
"I urge City Hall officers to make a site visit to understand the seriousness of the problem and to resolve it," said Lim.

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