The dangers of the road are often underestimated, especially during peak travel periods.
GEORGE TOWN: A volunteer who spends nearly every weekend patrolling the East-West Highway between Gerik in Perak and Jeli in Kelantan is urging motorists, particularly first-time users, to avoid travelling along the route after dark and to resist stopping unnecessarily, citing the dual risks of wildlife encounters and the near-total absence of emergency assistance along the isolated 100km corridor.
Mohd Amir Faizal, 48, from Sungai Petani, has made it his personal mission to assist stranded motorists on the route officially known as Jalan Raya Timur-Barat.
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Operating on a self-funded basis mainly during weekends and festive seasons, he said the dangers of the road are often underestimated, especially during peak travel periods.
“If possible, don’t use the road at night. This road has elephants, tigers, bears and all sorts of wildlife,” he recently told theSun.
According to Amir, elephants are commonly seen emerging from forest areas and lingering near the roadside between evening and early morning.
“Usually, elephants come out from the forest and stay by the roadside from about 7pm until 8am,” he said.
He said the warning was especially important for inexperienced motorists and those unfamiliar with the East-West Highway.
The route cuts through forested terrain and stretches about 100km, with limited access to mechanics, workshops and emergency services.
“If your car breaks down in the middle of that road, it’s very difficult to get help. There are no mechanics there, especially at night.”
Amir said motorists should ensure their vehicles are properly prepared before using the route, adding that he frequently encounters stranded drivers without spare tyres or proper emergency tools.
“Sometimes, they don’t even have a spare tyre. Sometimes, they don’t even have the tools,” he said.
He added that rainy conditions further increase the risk of crashes along the highway as oil residue from vehicles can resurface on wet roads.
“Most of the accidents I’ve seen usually happen during rainy conditions,” he said.
Amir also advised motorists against stopping casually by the roadside, particularly during long festive traffic jams.
He frequently uploads safety reminders and warnings for road users on his Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts.
During the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri balik kampung period, he said some motorists were seen setting up tables and preparing drinks by the roadside while waiting for congestion to ease.
“Sometimes, people stop to prepare milk for their children or sit too long by the roadside,” he said, adding that such situations increase the risk of encounters with wild animals.
Amir said he travels along the route almost every week on a voluntary basis to help motorists facing breakdowns, punctured tyres and minor vehicle problems that are usually not handled by emergency responders.
“Whenever I go there, there will definitely be cases involving punctured tyres or broken-down vehicles,” he said.
According to Amir, his volunteer work is entirely self-funded and mostly carried out during weekends and festive periods when traffic volume increases.
However, following the reduction in the Budi Madani diesel subsidy from 300 litres to 200 litres, he now makes fewer trips.
Amir said his intention in sharing the warnings online was simply to encourage motorists to be more cautious and better prepared before travelling along the East-West Highway.
The Gerik-Jeli route has previously drawn attention due to wildlife-related incidents, including elephant sightings and tiger attacks near the highway.
