MALAYSIA: Motorists heading to the city via the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) were caught in a traffic snarl at the Jalan Bangsar/Jalan Maarof and Jalan Travers traffic lights junction heading to Brickfields yesterday morning.

NPH general manager Neoh Soon Hiong said traffic policemen, who usually manned both areas during peak hours, stopped doing so about a month ago to allow City Hall to carry out tests on its SCAT sensor system (meant to control the timing of the lights according to traffic volume).

"Ever since then, traffic has been chaotic particularly at that stretch. It was slightly extraordinary this morning. However this could be due to the drizzle,’’ he said.

Neoh added that the particular stretch normally faced congestion during peak hours in the mornings and evenings.

A City Hall spokesman confirmed that they were testing out the SCAT system at the said area, but added that the traffic situation was bad in all parts of the city that day due to the closure of the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) flyover in Kuala Lumpur.

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