The East Coast Highway 2 (LPT2) concession holder, LPT 2 Sdn Bhd pays serious attention on the safety of people using the highway due to the frequency of accidents on the expressway since it was opened on Jan 31 last year.

LPT2 general manager Husni Md Yusuf said since the company took over the management of the highway operations from the Terengganu state government on July 15, various measures had been taken to enhance the safety level on the highway.

"These include repairing the road pavement as soon as possible at the locations identified, upgrading the road surface at 10 locations identified on the highway in stages beginning this month.

"In addition, LPT2 also continues to carry out monitoring and repair the damaged highway fences for public safety," he said in a statement to Bernama, here today.

The statement follows the fear expressed by the public on the frequent accidents occurring on the LPT2 lately including the one involving Bernama Editor-in-Chief Datuk Zakaria Abdul Wahab at Km 395.4 of the LPT 2 near Ajil, yesterday.

Husni meanwhile sought the cooperation of the public to refrain from damaging fences along the highway as it could result in animals entering the main route of the highway and endangering public safety.

He said the LPT2 management also provided patrolling teams to provide assistance to road users having problems with their vehicles on the highway and conducted joint operations with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP).

In enhancing security aspects on the highway, the concessionaire had also held several sessions auditing safety along the highway periodically with the responsible parties.

"In addition, LPT2 also conducts law enforcement activities with the police periodically to ensure the speed limit on the LPT2 is adhered to by the motorists," he explained.

He said members of the public could call the LPT2 helpline Hotline at 1800 88 0220 which operates 24 hours daily to seek assistance on the highways in case of any emergency.

Meanwhile, Head of the State Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, Supt Shahrum Hashim when contacted by Bernama said in view of the frequent accidents on the LPT2, police had held meetings with the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) to find the best mechanism to boost safety of roadusers throughout the highway.