SIPITANG: Pan Borneo Highway concessionaires have been urged to stop ignoring the worsening road conditions along Kampung Lingkungan road, between Sipitang and Beaufort.
Former Sindumin Community Development Leader, Sani Miasin, highlighted large potholes along the stretch, warning that they pose a serious danger to road users.
He said that agencies tasked with maintaining the Pan Borneo project must act swiftly to prevent further road accidents.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“These potholes are like traps, waiting for their next victim. When vehicles hit them, the tyre rims are often damaged and for motorcyclists, it can result in serious falls.
“The situation worsens during rainy nights, when water accumulates on the road and completely conceals the holes. Drivers have no way of spotting the danger in time,” Sani said.
Many motorists have already suffered damaged tyre rims, while numerous motorcyclists have been involved in accidents especially when travelling at night, he said.
Sani, who also heads the Sindumin division of the Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), said the relevant agencies must carry out urgent maintenance, particularly in high-risk areas riddled with dangerous potholes.
He added that while claims for compensation are often complicated and time-consuming, they are meaningless if lives are lost.
“It should not take a fatal accident for action to be taken. The concessionaires must take full responsibility to ensure these roads remain safe and well-maintained,” he said.
Sani cited a recent incident where a motorist’s tyre burst after hitting a pothole, narrowly avoiding a serious crash.
He also pointed out that the area is poorly lit, with little to no street lighting, further increasing the danger for road users, especially during wet weather and night-time travel.
He hoped the authorities will take immediate and serious action to address the matter, rather than waiting for another tragedy to occur.
Just last week, a fatal accident occurred involving a three-tonne lorry and a Land Rover, resulting in the death of a Chinese male motorist and injuries to three others allegedly due to the road’s poor condition, he said.
