Four traffic police officers were taken by surprise today when they received incentives worth RM250 each from the Penang government for their "dedication" at work.

The officers, who also received appreciation certificates, had helped to clean up sand that had spilt over from a 10-tonne truck, which skidded and crashed at KM7.6 on the first Penang Bridge yesterday.

In the 11.15am incident, which happened during traffic peak hours at the island-bound lane of the bridge, traffic came to a standstill for over an hour.

Seberang Perai Tengah police chief assistant commissioner Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said there were no casualties during the incident.

At a press conference in Komtar today, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng praised the four for their dedication, which he said "went beyond their call of official duty."

"The policemen took their own initiative to ensure traffic ran smoothly on the lane.

"We appreciate such dedication shown in the four police officers, who helped clean up the stretch of road covered with sands left by a lorry during an accident on the bridge," Lim said.

"This is the kind of dedication which we should all practise," added Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general.

He said whenever a government officer acts in an exemplary manner which goes beyond his official duties, such an attitude must be celebrated.

Accompanying the four police officers at the press conference were Penang police chief A Thaiveegan (photo).

They are corporals Azidin Ahmad, Mohd Nazri Zainal Abidin, Mohd Zain Mohamed Nor and Noor Ridzwan Mat.

Other than Lim, the policemen also received congratulatory messages from inspector-general of police Mohamed Fuzi Harun and 50 other individuals for their excellent attitude, said Thaiveegan.

These come after a short video clip, featuring the police officers hard at work at the scene of the accident, went viral on social media.

"We just did our jobs, we don't expect anything," Thaiveegan said.

Accompanying Lim at the event were Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon, state secretary Farizan Darus and Penang traffic contigent chief Wan Sharuddin Wan Omar.