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.
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/booby-traps-for-the-unwary-1.249170
(By SHEILA SRI PRIYA, 6/4/2013)
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment