Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) chairman Noor Azmi Ghazali said the move was necessary to prevent billboards from toppling over and injuring highway users.

“Regular monitoring is essential to ensure the structure of billboards followed approved specifications, as well as used safe materials,” he told a press conference after visiting a newborn baby programme in Kampung Nibung Hangus here yesterday.

He was commenting on the collapse of two billboards during a storm at the 177.9km of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) between Alor Pongsu and Bandar Baharu in Kedah on Sunday.

In the 7pm incident, the toppled billboards caused severe congestion.

Noor Azmi said MHA would take action against those highway concessionaires not complying with standard procedures, adding that the language used on billboards should be appropriate and not touch on racial sensitivities.