Pothole-fixing bikers criticised for repairing roads in Kuala Lumpur
A group of bikers have been criticised for voluntarily fixing potholes on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
The group, known as "Ikatan Silaturrahim Brotherhood", have been spending their own money to do what they describe as volunteer work.
Mr Azlan Sani Zawawi, the group's spokesman, said they are saving lives by repairing roads which could cause accidents.
He told the New Straits Times: "We will keep on doing it. We are not doing it for fame, to show off, brag or take away jobs. We are doing it for the safety of road users.”
Called "Operation Brotherhood", the group has spent the last six years repairing potholes in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Malacca.
But KL Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib has deemed the act as inappropriate considering it was carried out by volunteers and that it was a matter for the city officials to address.
Despite criticism, Mr Azlan said that his group could agree to cooperate with the city officials in solving this potentially dangerous problem.
"Brothers" lost
He said: "We see this as a serious issue. I, personally, have lost seven biker ‘brothers’ because of road accidents, with three of the deaths attributed to potholes."
According to Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, a number of agencies did not resurface roads after digging them up for construction works.
“That is why a group decided to patch up the potholes voluntarily, even though we have asked them not to do so," the minister was quoted as saying.
Source: New Straits Times
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