How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Monday, March 09, 2009

About time Plus do something...instead of trapping motorists

...into paying for being in a massive traffic jam.

Last night, coming back from KL at around 7.30pm, we passed Slim River interchange and saw the northbound double lanes being changed to two-way traffic flow. First impression was an accident but drawing closer, we could see two vertical structures, which looked like tall cranes on the southbound side.

As we passed the obstruction, we could not make out what was going on. We saw between two tall structures was one similar structure, which was horizontal, either on the road or on a huge low-loader. Nearby were at least two low-loaders and other vehicles. We guessed the structures were about to be loaded onto the low-loaders and they occupied the whole width of the southbound lanes.

The diversion which slowed down southbound vehicles considerably caused a massive jam. According to my estimate it was 12km long, from km 368 to km 356 or almost from Slim River interchange to Bidor interchange!

As usual, I pitied those unsuspecting motorists, who joined the queue and got stuck for a long wait and a crawl, at the end of which they had to pay the same tolls regardless. Just imagine among those, there could have been people rushing to go to KLIA, or even sickly people, or even people who had full bladders just wanting to piss!

Please! People in charge of Plus, do something about the necessary warnings to prevent motorists from being conned into paying tolls despite being in a massive jam!

2 comments:

Rashdan said...

Agreed, as I am one of the trapped users of the route last night. They (PLUS) should really gave discount to those affected users. 3 long hours of nothing. *Sigh..

KoSong Cafe said...

Thanks Rashdan.

Having read The Star this morning, the fact that the incident happened since Saturday midnight meant a total of 19 hours by the time I passed by – just imagine the number of vehicles which went through the long wait.

If Plus had in place those electronic signs along the NSE, any obstruction could be notified to oncoming vehicles and it is up to the drivers to decide whether or not to take an alternative route. In this case, the interchange before Slim River is Bidor. Even without electronic signs, Plus’s Rhonda team could have initiated the warning (that is, if the company had the policy in the first place). A generous 10-hour lead time to confirm and warn about the situation would have saved those who joined since.

In fact, drivers could be advised to take the trunk road and rejoin at Slim River interchange. The loss in earnings in terms of toll charges from Bidor to Slim River is definitely worth the gain in terms of good public relations.