A VOLUNTEER group, which has spent the last decade patching potholes, believe corruption in various agencies is the main cause behind the shambles in road repairs. 

Ikatan Silatulrahim Brotherhood (Brotherhood) founder Azlan Sani Zawawi, better known as Lando, said funding for repairs in Malaysia runs into thousands of ringgit but the paved roads would be damaged in a short time.

“Contractors will usually apply for project allocations of between RM4,000 and RM5,000 for a standard hole but the original cost is only between RM50 and RM70.

“Although the funds demanded by the contractor are a lot, the paved roads will become damaged quickly.

“Therefore, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) needs to intervene and investigate this issue,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Brotherhood has been at work since 2008 and counts members all over the country among its ranks.

Selangor and Johor are among the states with the most potholes, he said.

The group receives an average of 100 complaints in a month, mostly in Selangor, Azlan said.

“Last week in Kapar, we received 45 complaints of potholes. Grouses will increase if it is the rainy season. Once we receive the complaint, we will channel it to the authorities.”

The authorities should also look into complaints from the public, where contractors are charging them to cover up the potholes.

“This should not be happening at all,” he said.

Azlan, who is also an actor, started volunteering to patch potholes after a friend met with an accident. He had waited a long time for local authorities to act.

Brotherhood’s activities have caught the attention of the media. Some members have even been arrested by police, accused of playing politics to tarnish the image of the local authorities.

According to Azlan, his group lodged a complaint with MACC and he was informed that several anti-graft officers were sent to take a course at the Public Works Institute of Malaysia to understand irregularities on the issue of road repairs.

“If necessary, we are ready to work with MACC because we know the agency does not have much knowledge on corruption cases in road maintenance.

“We are ready to share all the information and complaints that can help the probe,” he said.

The issue of potholes became a concern after Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was injured when he fell off his bicycle after hitting a pothole in Banting, Selangor, last weekend.

The incident garnered widespread attention when the Public Works Department (PWD) apologised to Khairy.

Many Malaysians criticised PWD for being excessive and practising double standards, when many others have been seriously injured and lost their livelihoods because of pothole accidents.

On December 30, the Works Ministry reiterated its commitment to ensure every road with potholes will be patched within 24 hours. – January 3, 2021.