KUALA LUMPUR: Social media was abuzz yesterday after a photograph of a “tilting” light rail transit (LRT) beam along the Federal Highway near Subang Jaya went viral.

A police spokesman told The Malaysian Insider that the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, which prompted traffic diversion. “The contractor contacted the highway authorities and police to assist in diverting traffic while works were being carried out,” the spokesman said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the spokesman said no untoward incidents were reported as traffic heading to Klang had been diverted. “The contractor carried out the necessary works, and normal traffic flow resumed later at night.”

During the traffic diversion, part of the Federal Highway from Kuala Lumpur to Klang was closed by the highway authorities.

It is understood that Prasarana Malaysia Bhd also sent its safety patrol unit to assist with the traffic diversion.

A spokesman said the contractors were conducting preparatory works for the lifting of the segmental box girders when they noticed an “anomaly” on the gantry crane.

“A decision was made to bring the gantry crane down in the interest of public safety and traffic was diverted to make way for the process.”

Traffic resumed at about 8pm.

Meanwhile, Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) issued a statement yesterday to clarify that the incident had been mistakenly linked to the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) line of the Klang Valley mass rapid transit (MRT) project.

“The SBK line does not pass through Subang Jaya or the Federal Highway.

“Therefore, the incident is in no way associated with the SBK line or the MRT project,” MRT Corp said, adding everyone should be responsible in spreading news. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 24, 2014.