ILLEGAL CROSSINGS, AG HAD IGNORED

THE JKNS (Sabah Railway Board) has not waked-up and still continue to make excuses over and over again even after the serious rail accident on Monday.

The JKNS and the Federal Minister of Transport Kong Choo Han said that this may be due to the illegal crossing at the place of accident, and there are many such illegal crossing along the way. They want to see the detail investigation report first before they can take action.

In the real fact, the crossings were there since many decades ago and even goes back to the colonial time. Now we are in the 2011, why the same situation still persisted, and in fact had became worst due to the intensive development both residential, commercial, and industrial in the area alone Tg Aru to Low Kawi Army Camp.

Actually how many of these rail crossings are classified as ‘Legal or Illegal', and is there any action to get these identified and make known to the general public. The rail crossing leading to the Shell service Station at the rail accident site is a common rail crossing that everyone have taken it as an approved crossing and had been using that for many years without trouble.

Now the JKNS declared that it is an illegal crossing, how can the people accept this, especially there is a housing estate, kampongs, and a petrol station being built here with approval from the authorities?

The question is why there are no safety precaution and measures to protect the people from the speeding train, no fence, no gates, no signal and alarm system, and no one on guard. Why these were not carried out by the JKNS? What is our Sabah Ministry of Infrastructure doing and the Federal Ministry seems did not care at all.

It is a big shame that our Audit General did not check on this obvious and serious case of total negligence and did not expose the various short coming and defaults in the RM450 million railway upgrading contract in Sabah, but they choose to write on some other cases of petty and minor thing like roof leaks and wall cracks. It is known by many that the said project had been delayed and faced many draw-backs but no mention what so ever by the AG department concerned.

Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Hiew King Cheu wanted the AG department to immediately produce a full report on this, and should explain on all the details of the various matters arising within. This is particularly important and it is concerning public interest and safety as a whole. This is serious matter because there are thousands of people are still making the crossing everyday.

- Sabahkini