PM: MRR2 cracks could have been avoided if...

Cracks on the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) flyover in Kuala Lumpur could have been avoided if previous repair works were carried out responsibly, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.

According to Bernama, the prime minister lamented that the government spent up to RM70 million - which he described as a "huge sum of money" - for the repairs and the cracks have reappeared in such a short time.

The repairs were carried out in February 2006 when cracks appeared on 31 of the 33 pillars of the flyover located in Kepong. That stretch of the highway was also closed in August 2004 for similar repairs.

Abdullah also noted that the problems faced by the people such as traffic congestion and delays due to the partial closure of the affected stretch would only make them angry and lead them to negative conclusions.

The flyover and the road beneath it were closed from 10.30 am to 5 pm yesterday after three of the 18 carbon fibre panels on Pillar 28 peeled off early yesterday and some clumps of concrete fell onto the road.

Two motorists cheat death

Works Minister Mohd Zin Mohamed said yesterday two of the six lanes would be closed for the next three weeks until a team of consultants had studied the damage.

However, the minister assured that the structure was safe.

Abdullah said that if all work was done well, the people would not get angry and it would be safe to use the road.

The New Straits Times reported that two motorists, driving under the MRR2, cheated death when their cars were hit by debris.

Commenting on the incident yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak promised a full probe into the matter.

He said the Works Ministry should conduct the investigation and submit its findings to the Cabinet.

"There is a need to find out why the cracks occurred and who is responsible," he was quoted as saying.