SHAH ALAM, 16 Jan 2018:
Two friends were killed when the Perodua Kancil they were traveling in, rammed against the wall of the Batu Tiga Toll Plaza here yesterday morning.
Muhammad Azki Dahlan Jamit, 21, and Norsya’Baniah Norhisham, 20 – who sustained head and body injuries – died on the spot in the 6.36am crash.
The driver of the Perodua Kancil, Muhammad Azri, 23 – who was also Muhammad Azki’s brother – sustained body injuries and is currently treated at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang.
In a statement, Shah Alam police chief ACP Shafien Mamat said Muhammad Azri’s condition was reported to be stable.
He said initial investigations revealed Muhammad Azri was heading to Klang from Kuala Lumpur when the car skidded and rammed into the wall of the toll plaza.
“Following the impact, Muhammad Azki and Norsya’Baniah died at the scene and their bodies were sent to the Shah Alam Hospital.
“Family members claimed the bodies about 1.30pm.”
Meanwhile, users of the Federal Highway have urged the authorities to expedite the demolition work of the Batu Tiga and Sungai Rasau toll plazas as the now idle and non-operational toll booths could be hazardous to motorists.
Motorist Mohd Faiz Anuar, 31, who commutes to work using the highway on daily basis said the toll plaza could really be hazardous as many motorists tend to suddenly slow down their vehicles upon reaching the toll plaza due to the narrow passage.
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TOLL-DEMOLISH 2 SHAH ALAM
“This condition is quite dangerous especially at night and early morning as well as during peak hours. The demolition of the toll plaza can also ensure smooth traffic flow on the highway,” he told Bernama today.
Another user Ahmad Ekhlas Hazlan said the demolition work should be expedited to prevent recurrence of such fatal accident.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Highway Authority director-general Datuk Ir Ismail Md Salleh when asked to comment on the matter said PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS), as the former operator of the toll plazas, was in the process of appointing contractor to carry out the demolition work.
“I expect the tendering process (for the appointment of contractor) to be completed in two months the latest or earlier,” he told Bernama.
He also advised highway users to be more careful when traveling through the toll plazas as the lane was only 3m wide.
The toll collection at the Batu Tiga and Sungai Rasau toll plazas were abolished on Jan 1.
The abolishing of the toll collection at the two plazas, as well as at Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah and at the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) in Johor was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when tabling the Budget 2018 on Oct 27 last year as part of the government’s efforts to ease the burden of the people.
– Bernama