Like ‘balik kampung’ jam: road users baffled by unexpected congestion

KUALA LUMPUR – The clear roads of the movement control order (MCO) and lockdown days are definitely in the past, as road users found out this morning following reports of unusual traffic congestions along major highways in Klang Valley.

After two years of a series of lockdowns and restrictions in the form of the MCO, recovery MCO and conditional MCO, motorists were left baffled by the unexpected traffic clog-ups as they rushed to work this morning. 

Given the “sudden” snarl-up, netizens took to Twitter to vent their frustration.  

Twitter user Khairuls Noorkhamar could not hold back his exasperation as he questioned the reason behind the heavy traffic.  

“Why is the jam so bad? It was this bad, too, when I was on my way home from work.  

“Why is it so convivial? It’s as though people are making balik kampung trips,” he said in jest.  

Meanwhile, another Twitter user with the username @reviewstuffs cynically suggested for road users to use police escort services.

“No worries (about the jam). Just use the police escort. Oh wait. We are not ministers.”

Muda member Farhan Iqbal also found it difficult to comprehend the massive bumper-to-bumper crawl. 

“What is going on with traffic this morning???” he asked.  

Checks on Astro Radio Traffic revealed that the heavy traffic jams on different stretches on main highways in Klang Valley were caused by a number of car crashes and stalled vehicles as well as breakdowns. 

For instance, at 7.38am, there was an accident on the Salak Highway near Taman Desa which caused a 7km jam from Taman Connaught. 

Meanwhile, on the Bukit Jalil Highway, a broken-down lorry had caused congestion from Calvary heading to the Bukit Jalil Stadium. 

On one of the capital’s major roads, Jalan Loke Yew, Astro Radio Traffic reported that there was congestion from Jalan Maharajalela to the Sg Besi roundabout due to a three-car collision on the left and right lanes.  – The Vibes, May 18, 2022