PETALING JAYA — A comprehensive nationwide safety audit of billboards, gantries, and similar structures along highways is necessary to protect road users, according to Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community.

Lee’s remarks followed the collapse of a large structure, believed to be a highway gantry, on the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) at KM8.4 late Friday night. Although details regarding casualties or damage have not been disclosed, the incident has raised concerns over the safety and maintenance of roadside structures exposed to environmental and structural risks.

“Billboards, overhead gantries, signboards, and steel frames are vulnerable to factors such as heavy rain, strong winds, corrosion, material fatigue, and ageing. We cannot afford to wait for a structure to potentially crush vehicles before action is taken,” Lee said in a statement.

He emphasized that the proposed audit should assess the physical condition of these structures, including their foundations, joints, bolts, corrosion levels, and their ability to endure weather conditions. According to Lee, a thorough inspection process would help preempt failures and enhance safety on the nation’s highways.

Lee also advocated for the creation of a detailed database by highway authorities and operators. This inventory would document all roadside structures, including ownership details, installation dates, maintenance records, and dates of the most recent inspections.

He further noted that responsibility for the upkeep and safety of these installations should not rest solely on highway operators, suggesting a collaborative approach involving property owners and maintenance entities.

The call for a safety audit underscores growing attention to infrastructure maintenance amid Malaysia’s expanding network of expressways and increased traffic volumes. Authorities have yet to issue an official response to Lee’s proposal or comment on the NKVE incident.