Safety upgrades needed after history of fatal incidents along Sungai Korok stretch, says Mada

Safety upgrades needed after history of fatal incidents along Sungai Korok stretch, says Mada

New Straits Times·2025-07-09 11:00

JERLUN: The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) says it supports the government's move to install roadside barriers and street lighting along the 20km stretch of road running beside Sungai Korok.

The initiative follows a tragedy in which a family of six drowned after their car plunged into the river.

Mada chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said Sungai Korok is not a natural river but a key component of Mada's irrigation system, which supplies water to thousands of hectares of padi fields across Kedah and Perlis.

"The road runs parallel to the canal, which is why it's so close to the water. This is a manmade irrigation canal, not a natural river, and it falls under our system," he said.

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Ismail said Mada supports the Public Works Department (PWD) and Road Transport Department (RTD) in conducting safety studies on high-risk sections of the route.

"This is not the first incident along this stretch. We believe safety upgrades should be prioritised in danger zones, even if not along the entire road," he said when met today.

He said the canal, which spans about five metres wide and six metres deep, originates from the Pelubang Water Treatment Plant (WTP), with water flowing downstream from the Pedu Dam.

"From the Pedu Dam, water flows through Sungai Pedu into the Pelubang WTP, then continues through Alor Changileh to Arau in Perlis, and finally reaches Pendang."

He added that the canal structures were designed with operational needs in mind, including maintenance access and the movement of padi farming machinery, and that safety considerations must be balanced with these factors.

At present, the canal is at full capacity during the irrigation season, with 90 per cent of padi planting completed.

"This system supports over 15,000ha of padi fields. We're releasing around 3,000Q (cubic feet per second) of water daily — 2,600Q from the Pedu Dam and 400Q from the Ahning Dam.

"The current water level is also vital for downstream water treatment plants, and we regulate it in coordination with the WTP," he said.

On Monday, the bodies of the missing family were found inside their car, which had plunged into Sungai Korok.

They had been reported missing since Saturday.

The victims were identified as Mohamad Azim Izat Ishak, 32; his wife Nurul Hidayah Khadijah Razman Efendi, 31; and their four children — Putra Rayyan Nur, 9; Hawa Adriana Nur, 8; Annayla Humaira Nur, 7; and six-month-old Tuah Haydar.

Initial investigations suggest the vehicle may have skidded off the road while the family was on their way home to Jerlun from a relative's house in Taman Seri Aman, Jitra.

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