Kota Kinabalu: Overloaded oil palm lorries are one of the reasons the Government cannot solve the problem of damaged roads from Telupid to Sandakan and Kinabatangan, said Karamunting Assemblyman Datuk George Hiew Vun Zin.
Hiew said he witnessed overloaded lorries using the road from oil palm plantations to palm oil mills, especially at night.
“If we don’t take action on these overloaded lorries, then the damaged Telupid-Sandakan and Telupid-Kinabatangan roads will never be resolved.
“Even when the new Pan Borneo Highway project is completed along this stretch, the new road will be damaged quickly, so what is the point of a new road then?” he said in his debate speech at the State Assembly.
The Karamunting Parti Gagasan Rakyat division chief said the Public Works Department (JKR) has maintained the road throughout Sabah with the same methods, approaches and standards.
“However, the damages along the Telupid-Sandakan and Telupid-Kinabatangan roads only worsen in time.
“For years, the people have been criticising every government, saying the Government has failed, calling the road ‘jalan bulan’.
“Why can’t we solve the problem here? One of the causes is irresponsible road users; overloaded trucks,” he said.
Hence, Hiew proposed that the State Works Ministry create an enforcement task force to investigate and take action against transportation that violates the Government’s Heavy Weight Increase (BDM) level.
“Don’t just arrest the truck driver. Investigate which plantation they come from and which factory they are heading to, and take follow-up actions. Issue compounds. Use this money to compensate for the road damage.
“If we could take this step, I believe the Telupid-Sandakan-Sukau road will not have any problem anymore,” he said.
Earlier, Hiew commended the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for the speedy implementation of the Pan Borneo Highway project from Sapi Nangoh to Sukau, given that the project is now 60 per cent completed.
