GERIK – The Wakaf Pulau Besar Malaysia (MGIM) has called on the government to urgently address the poor lighting conditions along the East-West Highway (JRTB) Gerik–Jeli, following the heartbreaking death of a baby elephant that was struck and killed by a lorry in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 2.50 am in a pitch-dark stretch of the highway, where visibility was severely limited due to the absence of functioning streetlights.
Omar Mohd Esa, President of MGIM, who is also widely known as ‘Abang Highway’ on social media for his tireless advocacy on road safety issues, described the incident as a wake-up call for authorities to take proactive measures in high-risk areas.
“This tragedy highlights the critical need for proper road lighting infrastructure. Dark highways not only endanger the lives of animals but also pose a serious threat to road users including human lives,” Omar said in a statement.
Adding to the emotional weight of the incident, passersby reported seeing a distressed mother elephant standing beside her lifeless calf, refusing to leave its side a scene that has sparked public grief and anger.
Omar emphasized that such incidents should no longer be dismissed as isolated events, urging authorities to take immediate and comprehensive action.
He proposed that streetlights be installed or repaired in all identified wildlife crossing hotspots, and that additional warning signage and monitoring systems be implemented.
“We cannot afford to treat this as a one-off. Every life animal or human matters. I strongly urge the authorities to act now by installing proper lighting, improving signage, and exploring technologies like animal detection systems or thermal cameras to alert drivers in real-time,” he added.
He also stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration involving the Public Works Department (JKR), the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), and the Ministry of Works, to ensure a sustainable safety plan is put in place for wildlife-prone routes.
Omar concluded by saying this was not just an environmental concern, but a national safety issue:
“The next victim might not be an animal. It could be our own family members. Let’s not wait for another life to be lost before we act,” he said. -MalayaDailyToday
