GEORGE TOWN: The state government is planning to write a letter to the Penang Bridge operator, Plus Malaysia (M) Berhad (PLUS), on the proposal to improve the standard and specifications of the guardrails on the bridge.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said this was to prevent further incidents of vehicles plunging into the sea and suicide cases.
“Penang Bridge belongs to the federal agency and for us, we can only give our views on it.
“We will follow up with an official letter so that a review can be done on the existing barrier to prevent cases of vehicles plunging into the sea,” he said today.
On Monday, Chow urged the concession companies to review the appropriate mechanisms for the guardrails installation of the Penang Bridge and Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge (also known as the Penang second bridge).
He had said that the existing guardrails were probably not tall enough to meet the standards to prevent vehicles from plunging into the sea.
Chow made the call following an accident on Sunday in which a SUV plunged into the sea from the Penang Bridge after it was hit by another vehicle.
National news agency, Bernama reported yesterday that the latest mishap was the fifth such incident involving the Penang Bridge since 2010.
In the meantime, Chow hoped the Education Ministry would come up with more awareness programmes on stress management to reduce suicide cases.
“For suicide cases, we should focus on expanding moral and religious education and teach people on how to manage life pressures." he said.
Yesterday, while efforts were made to retrieve the SUV at Penang Bridge, a man jumped off the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge while streaming it live on his social media.
He was rescued by fishermen who happened to be nearby.