Highways want ban on motorcycles to be re-enforced

PUTRAJAYA: The days of motorcyclists using the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh) and Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Highway or Maju Expressway (MEX) could soon be over.
Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof told theSun that the government is in the midst of finalising a request from the operators of Akleh and MEX to re-enforce the ruling to restrict motorcycles from using both highways, for safety reasons.
"They (concessionaires) are appealing to us to withdraw the permission for motorcycles to use the highways. Right now, (motorcycles are) one of the major causes of accidents on these two highways. That was as far as record is concern, which was recorded by both highway operators," said Fadillah.
In June 2008, the then works minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed had given temporary approval for bikers to use Akleh and MEX free of charge "to ease the burden of the people" in view of the price of petrol (RM2.70 per litre) at the time.
Fadillah said while it would not be easy to withdraw the privilege for motorcycles, the government is deeply concerned about the safety record of bikers.
"I am looking at balancing them before making the final decision.
"Once you have given that permission (using the highway) and withdraw it, those motorcyclists will definitely object because that is the fastest way for them to get to their destinations," he said, adding that Akleh and MEX were not designed for motorcycle usage.
Fadillah also said: “I am still compiling all the reports in terms of record of the accidents involving motorcycle or caused by motorcyclists, so if I have sufficient proof or evidence, we may consider.”
Both highways were gazetted with a restriction on motorcycles under subsection 70 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 prior to the exemption granted.
Since motorcycles were allowed to use both highways seven years ago, a total of 382 road crashes involving bikers with 15 fatalities were recorded on MEX.
An estimated 4,000 motorcycles and 32,000 other vehicles ply the 26-kilometre route during peak hours daily.
The 7.9-kilometre Akleh started operation in May 2001 and has seen about half a million motorcyclists using it monthly, with an average of four motorcycle crashes in a month with three fatalities involving bikers.
It is learnt that since 2008, toll-paying users have been complaining to the Akleh operator about limited and unsafe space due to a massive influx of motorcycles, especially during peak periods, as well as illegal bike racing at night during weekends.
Akleh and MEX are operated by Projek Lintasan Kota Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) and Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd (MESB) respectively.
A spokesman for Prolintas and MESB confirmed that requests have been sent to the Malaysian Highway Authority for the past six years to revoke the approval for motorcycles to use the two highways.