Scenic drive: The East Coast Expressway (LPT) Phase 2 is a 188km highway that runs from Jabor in Pahang, to Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu. — Photo courtesy of PLUS Malaysia
Motorists driving along highways to the east coast plan their stops based on food or scenic views
THE long drive back to hometowns and villages on the East Coast in the peninsula is more bearable with highway Rest and Service Areas (R&R).
Tens of thousands of motorists travel on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway and East Coast Highway (LPT) every day.
From the Klang Valley, they begin their journey on the KL-Karak Highway which links Gombak in Selangor to Karak in Pahang, before continuing on the LPT that links Karak to Kuala Terengganu in Terengganu. (See map).
Some motorists make the most of their trip by planning meal stops along their journey.
The Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway sees high traffic volume, especially during the festive season when there is an exodus from the Klang Valley. — Filepic
Terengganu-born Ahman Azam Abd Rashid, 27, looks forward to having the popular Pahang dish Ikan Patin Masak Tempoyak (river catfish in fermented durian paste) at the Temerloh R&R each time he travels on the LPT.
“I prefer to stop in Temerloh as it is not too far from the Klang Valley. Sometimes I travel with friends and we always stop here to enjoy the ikan patin dishes.”
He was on his way to his hometown in Kuala Dungun, Terengganu, when he made the stop for lunch.
Six of the R&R spots – Genting Sempah, Temerloh, Gambang, Perasing, Paka and Ajil – are located at 75km to 90km intervals along the interstate highway.
StarMetro visited each R&R to discover what they offer hungry and tired motorists.
Cool atmosphere
The Genting Sempah R&R is the sole rest area on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway.
Of the six rest areas dotting the east coast highways, this R&R is the only one with a double-storey complex.
It is also the only R&R that has a fast-food burger outlet. It serves both east and west-bound traffic.
Other facilities include ATM machines and a gift shop. There is also a petrol station nearby.
LPT Phase 2 is a 188km highway that runs from Jabor, Pahang, to Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu. —Photo courtesy of PLUS (M) Bhd
Inside the R&R complex, several shops offer the Menu Rahmah – affordable meals of rice and vegetables with chicken or fish – from noon to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm daily.
Sarina Zainudin, 34, and her two friends from Ampang in Selangor were spotted having meals at the Genting Sempah R&R after a day out in Bukit Tinggi.
“The cool air makes this a nice location to eat and wind down before heading back to the city,” she said.
Popular stop
The Temerloh R&R is one of two rest areas on LPT Phase 1 – the other is Gambang – managed by concessionaire Anih Bhd.
Outside the complex are several fruit stalls.
Inside the complex, the dining area is clean and spacious, with a high ceiling that ensures good ventilation.
A customer buying food at the west-bound Gambang R&R.
The Temerloh R&R is equipped with a Touch ’n Go (TnG) reload machine, children’s playground, and petrol stations.
Hazim Ahmad, 31, from Shah Alam, Selangor, is a regular highway user and prefers to stop here on his way to Terengganu.
“Compared to other R&Rs, Temerloh attracts more people. It is also located at the halfway point of my journey.”
No crowds, easier access
Motorist Azlan Ahmad, 37, who stopped at Gambang R&R after the Temerloh R&R, said he felt like he was trapped in a time loop as both rest areas have identical layouts.
Nor Zaidah Mahmud, 64, who was heading west, said she stopped at Gambang to avoid the crowds at the Temerloh stop.
“The surau (prayer room) here has fewer people too, so it is more convenient,” she added.
Many motorists prefer to stop at the Gambang R&R as there is less competition for its facilities.
Both east-bound and westbound Gambang rest areas have a petrol station. The R&Rs are also equipped with a TnG reload machine.
It is also equipped with security cameras after an altercation in December 2018 broke out between a bus driver and six workers at the east-bound Gambang R&R.
The incident led concessionaire Anih Bhd to instal closed-circuit television cameras at all R&Rs under its management.
Urban legends
The Perasing R&R is not immediately visible from the highway as it is located further inward, amid greenery and wild vegetation.
This rest area, located on LPT Phase 2, is managed by concessionaire LPT2 Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of PLUS Malaysia Bhd.
Other rest areas on this part of LPT are Paka and Ajil, located further north along the highway.
The Perasing R&R serves both north and south-bound traffic along the interstate highway.
The Perasing R&R is somewhat secluded but has its own charm.
South-bound motorists intending to stop here need to take the exit that goes under the highway which leads to the R&R.
Unlike Temerloh and Gambang, Perasing gets few visitors.
There has been claims that the area is haunted, with claims of playground swings moving on their own and sightings of mysterious figures.
Lorry driver Nor Khairul Izam Kassim, 46, dismissed such tall tales.
“No, there are no ghosts here. I have yet to meet one,” he said with a chuckle.
The Ajil R&R is usually quiet as many motorists prefer to eat in Kuala Terengganu.
“This area is a bit secluded, but that is part of its charm,” he said.
The Perasing R&R has a children’s playground and a machine for TnG reloads. Both north and south stops have a petrol station.
There is also a gift shop selling local produce and crafts that opens daily from 9am to 10pm.
When exiting the rest area, motorists will encounter a roundabout that leads either north or south.
A first-time visitor who only wished to be identified as Ng, 41, said those not familiar with the roundabout might get confused.
“There are two signboards there showing ‘Kuala Lumpur’ in opposite directions,” he said, adding that the R&R lacked street lighting.
Rest and recharge
North-bound motorists driving electric cars can now stop at R&R Paka to recharge their vehicles.
Since last February, a 24-hour DC charging station has been operational at the north-bound rest area.
It is one of three stations in the country under an initiative by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), called “TNB Electron”.
The other two are located at the Tapah R&R and Ayer Keroh R&R, both on the north-bound side.
Users must download the Go To-U app to use the charging service.
On its website, TNB said five more charging stations would be built by the end of the year, inclusive of one at south-bound Paka R&R.
The Paka R&R tends to see few visitors.
The food court at the west-bound Temerloh R&R is clean and spacious.
Several highway users said they preferred to exit the highway and continue their journeys up north closer to the coast.
The road they referred to stretches from Paka town to Kuala Dungun and Kuala Terengganu. It runs next to several beaches.
“I prefer using that road because I get to enjoy scenic views along the coast,” said Mohd Hassan Adnan, 55.
However, another motorist, Aqib Abdullah, 33, said the highway from Paka R&R offers stunning panoramic views that made for a relaxing drive.
“I always look forward to seeing the vast expanse of greenery and hills along the highway.
“Sometimes, in the morning, thin mists hang over the landscape and it is very idyllic.”
Serene space
Ajil R&R is the last stop – or the first, depending on where you are coming from – along the LPT highway.
On weekdays, it attracts few visitors, probably due to its proximity to Kuala Terengganu, which is roughly 30km away.
“It is so close to the state capital that you may as well just skip the Ajil R&R,” said motorist Azman Hakim, 31, who is from Kuala Lumpur.
“But I do stop here every now and then as it is quieter and more peaceful,” he said, adding that he topped up his TnG card at the rest area.
Long journey to completion
The high number of people from Pahang and Terengganu living in the Klang Valley created a need for a carriageway linking the two zones to facilitate their travel.
In 1994, then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad mooted the idea of a new interstate highway as an extension of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway.
A plan was reportedly made in 1998 to build the east coast highway at a cost of RM4.26bil.
But this plan was scrapped following the Asian financial crisis.
The north-bound Paka R&R is now equipped with recharge station for electric cars. — Photo courtesy of TNB.
The proposal was resurrected in 2000, but the highway could only go as far as Jabor in Pahang, as the PAS-led Terengganu government at the time opposed the construction of a tolled highway in the state.
The new segment of the highway, known as LPT Phase 1, was opened on Aug 1, 2004.
That year, Barisan Nasional succeeded in reclaiming Terengganu in the general election, which paved the way for the construction of LPT Phase 2.
Construction began in 2006 and was supposed to be completed in 2011 but it was only finished in 2014.
Various factors were blamed for the delay, such as the 2009 flood and increase in prices of raw materials.
The highway known as LPT Phase 2 was finally opened on Jan 31, 2015.
On July 15, 2016, the concessionaire began collecting toll, much to the dismay of road users.
In 2019, the Federal Government approved the construction of LPT Phase 3.
The proposed 124km highway was to link Kuala Terengganu to Kota Baru and Tumpat in Kelantan, before ending at the Thai border.
On Feb 22, Public Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi reportedly said a request for proposal would be initiated before the project would be discussed by the Cabinet.
