Images of dimly lit Malaysian roads riddled with potholes are not new. While these are just some of the challenges motorists and other road users face over the years, there now seems to be a concerted effort to address these issues to ensure that Malaysian roads are safe.
It is understood that a new campaign to get Malaysians to love roads is in the works, and it could very well be launched next month.
However, the initiative will only work if it gets the resounding commitment from the other ministries and government agencies.
The objectives of the campaign, among others, are to ensure collective accountability in caring for roads in Malaysia and to reignite past road campaigns, including the “Aku Janji Zero Potholes” drive – to fix potholes within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.
There were 545,588 road accidents and 6,080 fatalities in Malaysia last year. While the majority of road accidents were the result of human behaviour, a study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research showed that other factors, such as the design and condition of the road infrastructure, and the state of the vehicles, also contributed to the crashes.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi recently admitted that Malaysian roads had problems with potholes, and urged road users to file complaints through official channels.
He also said the same about motorcycle lanes in Malaysia, which have been the subject of debates for decades as they are poorly maintained, unsuitable for bigger machines, and often dimly lit.
Malaysia, however, is no stranger to campaigns. Many are reminded of the “Cintailah Sungai Kita” (Love our River) and the “Tak Nak!” (Say No!) anti-smoking campaigns. But these initiatives were quickly replaced, once there was a change of guard in the respective ministries involved. In some instances, the return on investment, and overall impact, were questionable.
Other stakeholders believe that strict enforcement is key to keeping Malaysian roads safe for all. Road users also want quick action, instead of being told that a particular road does not fall under a particular ministry, or agency’s jurisdiction.
Roads must also be safe for pedestrians – a segment that is often overlooked in this Southeast Asian nation. Some roads in the country do not have proper pedestrian walkways or crossings, endangering lives.
All this, however, boils down to the attitude of motorists and road users. No campaign will succeed if the community does not embrace the essence of the campaign.
Driving the campaign in districts and villages nationwide could accelerate the buy-in from the locals, creating a sense of ownership and responsibility for our roads.
The execution of the campaign is crucial, and the project must be assessed periodically to ensure it creates the right impact on the ground, and not just merely to tick the boxes.
