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LRT after roads are in order
Published on: Sunday, February 24, 2019
By: Sherell Jeffrey
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LRT after roads are in order
KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Works Minister Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir  (pic) said his Ministry does not rule out discussion for a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system here but the priority now is on improving roads.

He said that in the context of the needs in Sabah, the priority is to improve the roads, be it federal or state roads, and that includes the Pan Borneo project which the Ministry under the leadership of Baru Bian has made their number one priority. 

“We have allocations under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) which the Federal Government is required to give to every state government to maintain state roads,” he told a media conference after meeting Parti Amanah Nasional Sabah members, Saturday. 

The Amanah Secretary-General was responding to a question on the status of the proposed study for a LRT system in Kota Kinabalu. 

The suggestion was raised in 2017 by former Inanam Assemblyman Dr Roland Chia who proposed a review of the Railway Ordinance so that legislation could be widened to incorporate the LRT to overcome traffic congestion. 

Mohd Anuar said there is no clear discussion regarding the matter but pointed out that the current government does not want any state to be left behind.

“I think the question of rail system involves millions of cost, but we cannot close discussion on the matter, discussions will take place once the priority, which is to improve the roads is done,” he said. 

He also noted that there are a number of abandoned construction projects or in his words “projek sakit” under their observation and this includes dilapidated schools. 

“We have taken note of nearly all such schools in Sabah, I also went to Papar to hand over a school constructed with the industrialised building system, the same goes for Sarawak, the Minister himself has given specific focus on ‘projek sakit’, projects that are slow  to complete,” he said. 

As for the Pan Borneo Project, he said it is the Ministry’s main priority and that the Minister has made frequent visits to Sabah and Sarawak to discuss on the matter. 

“Discussions are still ongoing and in the context of Sabah, discussions between the State Government and the Ministry to ensure no interruptions,” he said. 

“Many things can be planned to improve in the coming years, with dialogues and discussion between State and Federal government, it will go on smoothly,” he said. 

He also commented on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), giving the assurance that it is part of the Pakatan Harapan manifesto. 

He said the government is in the process of restoring whatever needs to be restored in line with MA63 because some views say it was not as originally agreed. 

“We know our country, we have our own bureaucracy, our own systems, the judiciary system, legislative system, we have an executive system, and all of these must run in parallel to meet any change we are going to make,” he said. 

He again assured everyone need not worry because Pakatan Harapan aims to do the best for the country, to have a truly integrated nation which is strong and united. 

He also talked about the importance of having peace and harmony in the country and advised his party members to refrain from raising racial and religious sentiments which can disharmonise the people. 

“We do not want extremist elements in our country, we want the country to be solid and for the people to accept the government of the day, and for all civil servants to work hard with the new administration,” he said. 

The programme also saw Datuk Dr Abdul Sani Yamil appointed as Amanah Sabah Vice Chairman III. - Sherell Jeffrey 





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