With the Chinese New Year expected to fall on Wednesday (January 29), many Malaysians have started their “balik kampung” journey. As for those in Penang and those who are planning to go to the state, brace yourself for massive traffic.
Penang Chief Police, Datuk Hamzah Ahmad, said more vehicles are expected to enter the state during CNY week, and 8 “blackspots” have been identified – accident hotspots.
An average of 200,000 vehicles are expected to enter Penang every day, with about 2.4 million vehicles predicted to enter the state during CNY.
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Datuk Hamzah told BERNAMA that police officers are stationed 24 hours a day at the affected ‘blackspot’ locations, as well as at several ‘hotspots’ or areas with heavy traffic congestion, to control the movement of vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Replacement Committee for Enforcement and Public Education at the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), Shafiz Rahim Raja, said that MBPP has launched Ops Cuti Sekolah for enforcement and traffic control in several areas of focus and tourist spots.
“Among the traffic management plans implemented is the use of closed-circuit cameras which act as intelligence eyes.
“This is to monitor and report locations involved in traffic congestion so that officers can be deployed to those locations immediately.”
He added that construction work and projects on main roads have been halted, except in emergencies, to reduce traffic congestion during the school holiday season. Additionally, MBPP, the police, and the Road Transport Department are also conducting patrols and traffic control in other identified congested areas during the school holidays, such as at Gurney Drive, Pulau Tikus, around Komtar, and Persiaran Bayan Indah (Queensbay Mall).
Do plan your journey, check your vehicles before driving and be safe! Happy Chinese New in advance to those celebrating!
