Penang expects two million vehicles during the six-day Ops Selamat, with police deploying hundreds of officers to manage traffic and ensure safety across identified hotspots.

GEORGE TOWN: About two million vehicles are expected to enter Penang during the six-day Ops Selamat 25 from February 15 to 20.

State police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said this year’s figure exceeds last year’s 1.8 million vehicles, driven by city dwellers returning for Chinese New Year and the arrival of Ramadan.

He warned the situation would likely cause traffic congestion on highways, federal, state, and town roads, particularly during peak hours.

During the operation, 380 officers and personnel from the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department will be deployed round-the-clock.

The operation also involves 350 patrol units from the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department, alongside other agencies like the Road Transport Department.

Azizee said police would adopt a Pre-Emptive Services and Total Enforcement concept, emphasising early action to prevent congestion and accidents.

The operation will target accident blackspots and congestion hotspots to ensure road safety, particularly along the North-South Expressway.

A total of 45 hotspots and blackspots have been identified across the state, including Jalan Teluk Air Tawar-Jalan Bagan Luar and Jalan Perusahaan Perai-Jalan Kulim.

Other key locations include the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, Jalan Ayer Itam-Paya Terubong, and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah.

Azizee advised all road users to exercise caution and comply with traffic rules to prevent accidents throughout the festive season.

Meanwhile, in Kedah, some 300,000 vehicles are expected to enter the Kota Setar district during the celebrations.

Kota Setar district police chief ACP Syed Basri Syed Ali said five officers and 43 personnel would be deployed throughout Op Selamat.

He noted that the high volume of vehicles can cause traffic congestion and increase the risk of accidents.

“In 2024, there were 96 accidents, which declined to 87 in 2025, while fatal accidents dropped from four to two cases over the same period,” he said.

Syed Basri said police had identified eight congestion hotspots, including several key junctions in Alor Setar.

Three accident blackspot areas were also identified, involving sections of Jalan Alor Setar-Kangar and the Sultanah Bahiyah Highway.

 The Sun Malaysia