Mohd Rafie (left) and Haril are gearing up to patrol the expressway and provide assistance to motorists during Hari Raya.— Photos: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI and AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
THE balik kampung exodus, a time when people who work or live in the city return to their hometowns to celebrate festivities with families and friends, has begun.
The joy and anticipation of driving home during Hari Raya is felt by many, as an estimated two million vehicles are expected to use the highway network.
But some will not be able to return to their hometowns as people will be counting on them to respond to emergencies on the highways.
These local highway heroes –from patrol officers to traffic management centre personnel – answer the call of duty and ensure motorists have access to help during the holidays.
StarMetro caught up with personnel from highway concessionaires PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) and Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) as well as the Jalan Tun Razak Fire and Rescue station to find out about their preparations for the season.
The sophisticated PLUS Traffic Monitoring Centre (TMC), where 82 staff members work shifts all-year round and man the 1-800 88 0000 PLUSLine.
Eye on traffic flow
At the Persada PLUS corporate office in Subang Jaya, which is located along New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), two PLUS Ronda employees will be on duty this year.
Mohd Rafie Md Isa, 38, from Sungai Petani in Kedah, and Haril Hafiz Md Zin, 29, from Muar in Johor, will be patrolling the expressway and providing assistance to motorists.
Having been on the job for seven years, Mohd Rafie and Haril both find meaning in what they do daily, although it comes with some sacrifices such as being away from their hometowns for Hari Raya.
Their annual leave for Hari Raya is on rotation, so they are both hopeful that they will get time off next year.
Some of the harrowing and challenging situations these highway patrol personnel have had to face over the years are fatal road accidents.
“Dealing with death is horrific, and it sits with us for a while.
“One of the worst things to happen while I was on duty was a motorcycle accident on the right lane, where a friend of the victim, who also stopped and waited, was hit by another car and died.
Jesni (left) and Azlizan helping motorists on the highway.
“When I see this, I always remember my family,” Haril said.
He reminded the public that highway emergency lanes should only be used for emergencies.
“Don’t stop at the emergency lane to take a call or feed your children. It’s not safe.
“When it’s an emergency, always use a safety triangle,” he added.
In the event of a breakdown or accident, they advise motorists to get out of their vehicles, place a safety triangle to signal distress and if possible, stand against the guardrails.
Mohd Rafie said throughout their years of service as highway patrol personnel, they had witnessed many stressful situations such as passengers being left behind at rest stops.
“We have seen parents accidentally leaving behind one of their children and bus drivers forgetting passengers.
Firefighters changing a motorist’s flat tyre in front of Jalan Tun Razak Fire and Rescue station in Kuala Lumpur.
“These people would not have their handphones with them so we help them call our PLUS Traffic Monitoring Centre and keep them safe,” he said.
He added that patrol personnel also had to maintain their fitness level and have certification for basic first-aid as well as basic auto mechanic knowledge.
PLUS Ronda personnel assist in minor vehicle repairs, towing services for light vehicles to the nearest rest and service area or safe area, and traffic management and coordination of emergency services.
Stepping into the PLUS Traffic Monitoring Centre (TMC), StarMetro saw how 82 employees worked 24-hour shifts all-year round to man the 1-800 88 0000 PLUSLine and keep tabs on traffic flow.
During festive seasons, they receive about 3,000 calls a day, comprising emergencies and general questions.
TMC supervisor Mohd Yusnizan Nasir, 39, a father of three from Bera, Pahang, will also be working this Hari Raya.
Norziha sees the bright side of being on duty as she gets to help people during Hari Raya.
“We usually receive a high volume of calls three days before Hari Raya and on the fourth day of Raya onwards,” he said, adding that they disseminated traffic information through radio stations, variable message signs (VMS), PLUSLine and PLUSTrafik Twitter service.
While not able to be with her family in Teluk Intan, Perak, this year, TMC staff member Norziha Abd Rahman, 35, sees the bright side of being on duty as she gets to help people.
“My job will be to ensure that motorists get the assistance they need,” she said.
The public can also download the PLUS mobile app from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store instead of calling the hotline.
The app has a PUTRI chatbot and SOS button which channels calls to TMC. It also provides live traffic updates.
Keeping people moving
Over at Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) Highway Operation Centre in Sungai Buloh, patrol officer Jesni Ya, 49, who hails from Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, is happy that he is getting time off for Hari Raya this year.
The father of three has been an auxiliary police officer with Prolintas for 14 years.
“I am proud to have this job where I help people and solve problems.
“Breakdowns and accidents are common during the festive season.
“We even have to clear away roadkill on the highways,” he told StarMetro.
He and colleague Azlizan Saad, 40, from Pekan, Pahang, are busy making sure their patrol vehicles are ready with the essential tools and equipment required for the job.
Prolintas manages six highways – Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh), GCE, Kemuning-Shah Alam Highway (LKSA), Kajang SILK Highway, Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) and Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE).
Azlizan will be on patrol duty for Hari Raya this year.
“We also find many motorists use the emergency lanes for non-emergency reasons.
“Safety for everyone is important; we also run the risk of getting hit by a vehicle when we carry out our duties,” said Azlizan.
Jesni and Azlizan are part of a team which patrols GCE at least five times a day.
GCE is a 54.4km expressway that connects Shah Alam to Rawang, with nine interchanges including access to the North-South Expressway via the Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor Expressway (Latar).
The emergency hotline is 1-800-22-8888.
Nurmayiean Miean, 30, from Kota Belud in Sabah, has had much experience in the control room monitoring highways for the past three years.
Nurmayiean has witnessed many incidents while monitoring traffic at the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) Highway Operation Centre.
“I have witnessed so many incidents and have gained good traffic monitoring experience.
“My job allows me to help the public in times of distress and vehicle breakdowns,” she said.
Equipped and prepared
Being far away from their families during the festive season can be especially difficult for Fire and Rescue Department personnel.
Jalan Tun Razak Fire and Rescue station chief Farid Hussin learned to appreciate family time even more while being away on duty.
Farid recalled a heartbreaking incident when he received a distress call during Hari Raya, where he saw a family with three young kids watching their house burn down.
In such situations, Farid said the only thing on his mind was his family back home and if they were safe while he and his team helped those in need.
“I have strong faith in God to protect my family as I am protecting the public,” he said.
Although not on duty this festive period, Farid will visit the fire station on the first day of Hari Raya, after prayers to boost the morale among firefighters.
He said firefighters were a second family and they would gather to share food and have a Hari Raya potluck.
“Every morning after marching, I will ask the team to voice their concerns and if anything burdened them lately.
“If they are too shy to speak in front of others, they can tell me personally afterwards.
“The people at fire stations along Jalan Tun Razak such as Titiwangsa fire station as well as Keramat, Pudu and Hang Tuah, have become closer as we sometimes cover for each other during Hari Raya.
“We always respond to each other’s calls if an officer is not on duty at one of the stations,” he said.
Firefighter Haryati Abdullah, 34, said her duty was never an excuse to neglect family responsibilities.
Haryati says she will call her family before heading into an emergency situation.
She said every time she received a distress call, she made it a point to call her family just to let them know.
“Our duty requires us to rescue people. There are times when a victim is stuck between heavy objects, and it could be their hand or the lower half of their bodies,” she said.
“Some experience severe injuries and die, and even then, firefighters have to assume control of the situation and minimise trauma,” she said.
Haryati, who has been on duty during Hari Raya four out of 12 years of service, emphasised that her family understood the nature of her job.
“I rarely go back home as I am from Kuching, Sarawak, while my husband is from Tawau, Sabah,” she said, adding that in a year, they would fly back to their hometown only once.
Firefighter Muhd Daud Esa, 32, said they were always prepared to spend time away from their families during Hari Raya.
“During the first three years, we do not have the option to take leave during festive seasons.
“After three years, a random ballot will determine if a firefighter is working or not,” he said.
Despite the difficulties that come with the job, Muhd Daud’s family has never complained about him being away for work because they understand the importance of serving the public.
