With reference to the recent rockfall along the New Klang Valley Expressway near Bukit Lanjan, I am deeply saddened by the collective and public display of arrogance and apathy by the Works Ministry, the Malaysian Highway Authority and concessionaire Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (Plus), which have echoed through malaysiakini .

Malaysians, as we know have short memories. In no time, this event will be forgotten by the masses and conveniently ignored by the powers-that-be.

Works Minister S Samy Vellu's statement, front-paged by the press on Sunday, claimed that his request for an allocation of RM156 million was rejected by the cabinet two months ago.

There must have been a reason serious enough for the minister to seek this allocation. So what was his alternative plan? Just wait for a mishap to happen?

It appears to me that the ministry is trying, in vain, to extricate itself from this issue. There has been excuse after excuse without reasons.

I am surprised that the concessionaire has given no public explanation for the rockfall. The senior management team appears ever ready to brief every VIP that comes view the disaster, which is excellent PR exercise.

But we want some sound and sensible reasons, and solutions as to how rockfalls can be prevented at critical stretches. And don't give us crap about building tunnels for the safety of motorists - that's a preposterous solution!

From a Plus-related website, I understand that the cost of the NKVE project included meticulous planning, design and supervision on the varying nature of terrain through which the expressway passes.

It also states that rock stabilisation, soft ground engineering, deep earth cuttings, and stabilisation of ex-mining land were among the major difficulties that had to be overcome to ensure long-term stability. Perhaps, at this juncture, we should ask how long is 'long-term'.

An experienced consultant was engaged to carry out the relevant study and survey before the project was implemented. I am surprised that this stretch of the highway was not identified as a stretch needing additional rock stabilisation.

With advance instrumentation available in the market, this rockfall could have been avoided had the monitoring been systematic and consistent.

The whole issue is muddled with inept answers to pertinent queries raised by the public at large and the opposition.

The Works Minister's excuse for not closing the road despite early signs of rockfall three days before goes to show his incapacity to prioritise. By some divine intervention there was no fatality but what if there had been? It could have been me as I use the stretch frequently, or anyone out there.

As a toll-paying user of highway, is it too much to ask for my journey to be not only fast but safe and smooth as well? Can the Works Ministry, MHA or PLUS give us the confidence and assurance?

And for those of you from the Works Ministry who were busy attending the Intelligent Transport Systems and Services World Congress in Spain recently, please wise-up to the basics first.