A few days before S Samy Vellu reminded the public that the Pos Slim road to Cameron Highlands has yet to be gazetted and therefore closed to the public, I took the route back to Batu Gajah from Tanah Rata, having been informed by some locals that it can be and is being used.

From Tanah Rata, I had to pass Brinchang and Kampong Raja towards Blue Valley (some 30km, if I remember correctly) before I arrived at a fork junction - a sign (right arrow) showing the way to Gua Musang and another sign (on the left) which was covered (as is normally done where a road is yet to be opened to the public) leading to the new road.

The road, a short distance from Brinchang, appears to be part of the highway project as the roadside barriers, road and drains look new and even trees were planted in some places. At the fork junction mentioned earlier, there was no warning about the road being closed, except on the way, I could see an oil drum placed in the middle of the road every few kilometres. There was one part of the road where earth was deliberately placed right across the road or it could have been the result of a landslide before, with a few tractors parked nearby. Then further down the road, I saw a container blocking half the road, thus blocking traffic going up from Pos Slim.

The journey from the fork junction to Simpang Pulai took about an hour. In my opinion, if the destination is Tanah Rata, the travelling time for motorists from the north using either new or old roads is almost the same, with the big exception that the new road is wider, less steep and practically has no sharp bends, and as one local put it, "my baby does not vomit". The new road to Tanah Rata involves the extra 30km or so, from the fork junction and having to pass Kampong Raja and Brinchang. Taking the new route makes it unnecessary to travel from Simpang Pulai to Tapah. So it seems like a trade-off between a longer more pleasant drive and a combination of part smooth highway (North-South) and part extra-winding old road.

If the destination is Blue Valley or Kampung Raja, the new road advantage is obvious. To Gua Musang it will be a tremendous saving of travelling distance and time. To motorists from the south, especially those who are prone to car sickness, it might still be worth the trouble taking the new route as it involves a quick drive along the N-S Highway from Tapah to Simpang Pulai, a more pleasant though still winding road from Pos Slim to Kampong Raja, Brinchang or Tanah Rata.

Having spent over RM500 million on the new road and already more than three years behind schedule, any further delay should be questioned. The JKR's (Road Works Department) reluctance to give the final go-ahead is understandable in view of the number of landslides, especially the recent major one at Bukit Lanjan in KL.

One of the options available seems to be the building of a tunnel at the place prone to landslides which is the main stumbling block delaying the opening of the new route. I hope a decision can be reached soon as it is difficult to stop vehicles from using the road which is practically completed. The motorists and especially the commercial vehicle drivers when questioned will certainly say they are willing to risk it. Human nature, I guess.

One important facility still lacking is that mobile phones are out of reach for most of the route. I think the service providers should combine their resources to build the necessary transmission stations soon. Higher expectations now, you see.

Over to you Samy and Moggie!