Monday February 6, 2012

Road closures for Thaipusam celebration

IN CONJUNCTION with the Thaipusam celebration, roads around the Batu Caves temple in Gombak will be closed today and tomorrow.

This includes Jalan Batu Caves, Jalan Perusahan and slip roads to Batu Caves.

The chariot procession from the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Jalan Tun H.S.Lee will start tonight at 12.20am and is expected to take about eight hours to reach Batu Caves.

According to Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rahim Abdullah, the Middle Ring Road 2 to Kepong/Damansara/ Gombak would be opened but one lane would be allowed for parking purposes and the chariot procession.

He said about 1.2 to 1.5 million people were expected to come to the festival, so security was a priority.

“We will allow people to park nearby without causing obstruction.

“Imposing summonses will be the last resort, so people need to be courteous when they park or they will risk their cars being towed away.

“We are aggressively on the lookout for jaga kereta boys who are operating illegally.

“There is a special team at the police booth to take police reports throughout the celebration.

“A syndicate of beggars is on the prowl around the temple, so we are also keeping an eye on them,” said ACP Abdul Rahim, adding that police were working with the Welfare Department and Selayang Municipal Council.

He reminded women not to wear jewellery to the celebration as it might attract snatch thieves and invite unnecessary trouble.

*Alternative Roads

From East Coast towards Kuala Lumpur/North

- Jalan Gombak to Setapak Kuala Lumpur

- Jalan MRR2 to Ampang to Kuala Lumpur

- Jalan Sentul to Jalan Ipoh towards North

From Selayang/North to East Coast/ Taman Gombak

- Jalan Sg Tua to Laksamana to Wira Damai to Sri Gombak

- Jalan to Kuala Lumpur to Sentul/ Setapak

- Jalan Kuching-Duke Highway to Karak Highway/Gombak

From Kepong to East Coast

- Jalan Ipoh to Jalan Sentul to Gombak to East Coast