SHAH ALAM, 19 Mar: The State Government will be instructing the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) to speed up the construction of an alternative road in Parit Besar, Padang Jawa, following the death of a teenager who used the shortcut there.
Welfare, Women’s Affairs, Science, Technology, Innovation and Culture Exco, Rodziah Ismail said that the alternative route is to replace the existing route which compromises the safety of the residents.
According to her, the step has to be taken following the death of a teenager, Nur Alisa Balqis Mohd Zakir, 1, who slipped into the storm drain at about 4pm yesterday.
“Several measures have to be drastically taken, especially to the route (shortcut) used by residents that risks lives. Most teenagers use the railway crossing and cross the storm drain to go home.
“This problem has been observed over the past three years where an effort to provide an alternative route has been underway.
“Assistance from the State Government has been given to speed up the construction works for the road.
“As the assemblyman (of the constituency), I hope that it will be completed quickly so that the residents can used a safer route,” she said when conducting a survey of the area in Parit Besar, Padang Jawa.
According to newspaper reports, Nur Alisa, together with three of her friends fell into the storm drain when using the pathway next to the drain when it was raining heavily.
However, two of her friends managed to escape while another friend was successfully rescued about 500 meters from the scene.
However, Nur Alisa was unable to be located when the firemen carried out a search and rescue, including using the diving team.
The victim’s body was then found two days later, floating in the Klang River.