'RM565m road is worst Federal project in Sabah'

Tawau: The Kalabakan-Sapulut Road meant to link this district to the State Capital is among the worst of failed infrastructure projects undertaken by the Federal Government in Sabah and it is almost certain that the RM565 million in tax payers' money has gone to waste, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Tawau chief, Datuk Kong Hong Ming."The BN Federal Government will be throwing away another RM270 million for nothing without a proper study of the present deplorable conditions of road as the supposedly new road is now already beyond economical repair and re-construction is necessary at most damaged sections" said Kong, a civil engineer.

Kong said in a statement that it was also disappointing that nothing came out of his reports lodged with the then Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) in 2008 on the project, despite further query in the Auditor General's report.

"In less than five years after the completion of the new gravel road which was supposed to be a RM565 million bituminous sealed road under a negotiated contract, Kalabakan-Sapulut Road has become unserviceable, unfit and unsafe for road users.

"More than 10 sections of the road are impassable to traffic. Major landslides and erosion problems coupled with lack of proper maintenance have caused extensive damage along the link road. It is a nightmare for the public who are unfortunate to travel on this road had to suffer such inconvenience," he said.

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He said the present condition of the supposedly new road is even worse than when it was a logging road maintained by the logging companies.

"It is a scandal as well as a complete waste of public funds by BN Government at the expense of the people of Sabah.

"It shows that the Federal Government despite having taken 95pc of the State oil royalty and taxes and other revenues from the people of Sabah, has failed miserably to provide any decent road network and system to serve the people of Sabah 47 years after the formation of this nation.

"In the meantime, we watch and admire the modern and expensive communication system and networks in Peninsular Malaysia including North-South and East-West and other impressive public transport and infrastructure built and enjoyed by the people there."

Kong claimed there is not a single decent trunk road or highway built in Sabah within 47 years of nation building.

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"Worst still, almost all the trunk roads linking the major towns in Sabah are presently in very bad shape due to poor or lack of proper maintenance despite billion of ringgit spent on road maintenance.

"Obviously, what we have in Malaysia is one country in name but having two systems of preferential administration with Sabah at the sub-standard level and lower priority in every aspect of development," he said.

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