Three-lane roads on all hilly parts in Sabah, says Star Jalibin

By Ezra Haganez
RANAU : The State Reform Party (Star) is of the opinion that all roads on hilly parts in Sabah, especially the lengthy stretches, must be upgraded into at least a three-lane road for safety and convenient usage.

Star state committee member, Jalibin Paidi, said Star leaders have received complaints and they have gone for close observation on these roads and indeed, the single-lane or even two lane roads on hilly parts like those in the Tuaran - Ranau and the Kota Belud - Kudat are in great need of upgrading.

"The current single-lane not only is unsafe to overtake slow and heavy vehicles, motorists also are forced to spend more time and fuel on the road as a result of unnecessary jam while climbing a hill.

"It would be easier for motorists if these roads are wider to accommodate a three-lane, making it comfortable for over-taking, therefore easing the road of safety issues. There should be overtaking lane and a lane for heavier vehicles like lorries in these hilly parts," said Jalibin in a statement from Ranau Thursday.

"Star just could not understand why the state and federal governments failed to appreciate this fact despite their so-called good relationship with each other. The good relationship, as vouched by Chief Minister Musa Aman should be reflected on improvement on these hilly roads, of which Sabah geographic is so endowed with.

"Take the Ranau road for example, Masidi Manjun must have realised my points, but somehow neglected to call for the federal to fund the enlarging and widening of these important stretches.

"And take the Kota Kinabalu - Tambunan single-lane road all the way from the state capital to Tambunan, why can't Tambunan assemblyman, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, persuade PM Najib Razak to widen it into a three lane, especially on the hilly part, if he so enjoys Najib and Musa's confidence?" he further argued.

He said if it is true that Najib has an ear for Pairin, the BN should prove it now before the general election.

"I mean everybody else must have realised the need for the KK - Tambunan road to be upgraded. Or is Pairin too detached from us till he could not see the points?

"We challenge Musa, Pairin and Masidi to please respond on this one, or else you guys are now just ashamed of your own failure. Tell us your take on these simple issue of motorists' need i have just raised. What do you say or pledge now that election is near... It has been decades and these roads are so obsolete in comparison with the traffic needs of the day," said Jalibin.

"The Federal collected tax alone to the tune of RM22 billion annually from Sabah, so there should be no reason not to do it for the rakyat. On top of that, we need more funds for road maintenance as bad roads in Sabah are shortening the life span of our vehicles compared to those in Malaya," he said.

It is a triple tragedy for us in Sabah as we have to fork out more money to buy our vehicles as they are more expensive here than in Malaya, on top of the facts our roads are in bad shape, and that fuels and motor parts and maintenance are more expensive here, he added.