Pan Borneo link will end pothole problem, says Bung

 

Sabah deputy chief minister Bung Moktar Radin lamented that social media users were quick to blame JKR when not all roads were under its purview. (Info Lalu Lintas Sabah Facebook pic)

SANDAKAN: The implementation of four packages of the Pan Borneo Highway for the Kinabatangan-Telupid route will resolve the issue of damaged roads that has been the bane of road users over the years, Sabah deputy chief minister Bung Moktar Radin said.

He said the completion of the project would solve the frequent damage to the existing decades-old road which is riddled with potholes as it could not accommodate the weight of vehicles such as lorries carrying oil palm fruit using the road every day.

He said the Sabah works ministry would seek allocations for road repairs during the two years until the highway is completed.

However, the state government does not plan to rebuild the entire road on the same route, he said, as part of the Pan Borneo Highway will pass through the affected roads.

Bung, who is also Sabah’s works minister, said the concessionaires appointed by the government were responsible for monitoring and improving damaged roads in accordance with the agreement.

He lamented that social media users were quick to rant and rave about road damage and lay the blame squarely on the public works department (JKR) and the government.

“Not all roads in Sabah are under JKR control,” he said. “Agricultural roads, local authority roads and farm roads are not the responsibility of JKR.”

Bung urged the district office to submit a list of roads that need repair or maintenance so that his ministry could apply for funds and direct those responsible to speed up repairs or maintenance work. - FMT