KUALA LUMPUR – The Hari Raya festivities bring with them arduous and extensive traffic jams for those journeying back to their home towns.
This celebratory period has consistently been marked by tales of drivers enduring hours-long queues and unexpected mishaps.
Speaking to Scoop, the commuters shared their exhausting experiences while travelling to their home towns.
Muhammad Asyraf Mohd Aripin, 24, a production manager based in Kuala Lumpur, recounted his gruelling journey spanning 26 hours, shuttling between the capital and Kelantan.
“My journey from KL to Kelantan wasn’t too severe, as I departed on Monday when the roads were less congested compared to Friday through Sunday. However, I encountered a significant bottleneck between Gombak and Bentong, adding 9-10 hours to my travel time,” he explained.
Asyraf detailed his return journey to Kuala Lumpur, which stretched to over 16 hours.
“My return trip was entirely different. Although I intended to use the LPT (East Coast Expressway), I found myself stranded in Besut for an extended period. Resorting to Waze for alternative routes led me onto obscure paths, including a narrow road that eventually faded into a padi field.
“Fortunately, local villagers guided me back to the main road. Despite the ordeal, I arrived in KL around 4pm after departing from Kelantan at 12am,” he shared.
Asyraf suggested the installation of signage by local authorities to indicate navigable routes, enhancing public awareness.
Another traveller, 24-year-old student Mohammad Aiman Mansor, endured a challenging journey from Klang to Kelantan, beginning at 10pm and concluding at 5pm the following day.
Expressing frustration over lane closures due to roadworks, Aiman spent five to six hours trapped in traffic.
“Why schedule road repairs during the festive season? Lane closures created bottlenecks, exacerbating traffic congestion. Repair work should have been conducted two months prior, avoiding such issues. Additionally, installing more roadside lighting could enhance safety,” he said.
Mohd Fairoz Akasyah Othman, 44, travelling from Shah Alam, Selangor, to Kulim, Kedah, proposes measures to enhance road safety during festive periods like Hari Raya.
“With the surge in vehicular traffic this year, we witnessed more jams and accidents. Increasing the number of speed cameras to deter speeding and establishing additional rest-and-relaxation stops for drivers could mitigate these issues,” he suggested.
Fairoz advocated for diversifying travel options to reduce road congestion.
“Lowering train and flight ticket prices would provide viable alternatives to driving, thereby alleviating traffic. Currently, many opt for driving due to limited alternatives, contributing to annual gridlocks,” he said. – April 16, 2024