Kuala Lumpur: The Federal Government has allocated RM66 million this year for slope repair and stabilisation works along federal roads across Sabah, including the vital Penampang–Tambunan–Keningau highway, which has been repeatedly affected by landslides and slope failures due to challenging terrain and adverse weather.
The allocation was disclosed by Works Minister Dato’ Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi in a written parliamentary reply to a question from Keningau Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan
(pic) during the current Dewan Rakyat sitting.
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According to the Ministry of Works (KKR), the Penampang–Tambunan–Keningau route remains one of Sabah’s most strategic federal highways, serving as the main land link between the West Coast and the Interior. As such, ensuring slope stability and road user safety remains a key priority for the Federal Government.
The ministry said the RM66 million allocation is part of the 2026 Slope Maintenance Programme, which focuses on repairing and reinforcing high-risk slopes throughout Sabah to reduce the risk of landslides and protect critical transport infrastructure.
In addition, the Federal Government has approved a RM22.5 million slope stabilisation project at Km 31.90 of the Kota Kinabalu–Keningau–Tenom Road (Federal Route 500) under Rolling Plan 4 of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
The project is expected to be tendered after August 2026, with the Letter of Acceptance scheduled to be issued in January 2027 before construction begins.
The ministry added that the Sabah Public Works Department (JKR Sabah) will continue conducting periodic inspections and technical assessments of identified critical slopes throughout the state.
Slope stabilisation and repair works will continue to be implemented based on risk assessments and engineering priorities to ensure the safety of motorists while preserving the integrity of Sabah’s road network, it said.
In the same parliamentary reply, the ministry clarified that the Keningau–Kimanis road is under the jurisdiction of the Sabah Government as it is classified as a state road.
On the long-discussed proposal to construct a tunnel through the Crocker Range, KKR said it has yet to receive any application from the Sabah Government under Rolling Plan 1 or Rolling Plan 2 of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) for the project.
The RM66 million allocation underscores the Federal Government’s continued commitment to strengthening the resilience of Sabah’s road infrastructure and improving public safety, particularly along routes vulnerable to geological movement and extreme weather.
For the thousands of commuters, commercial transport operators and logistics providers who rely on the Penampang–Tambunan–Keningau highway, the slope mitigation projects are expected to significantly reduce landslide risks, improve travel reliability and strengthen connectivity between Sabah’s West Coast and Interior.
The investments are also expected to support long-term economic development by providing safer and more reliable transport links for businesses, tourism, agriculture and local communities that depend on the federal road network.
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