Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s federal roads have exceeded their 20-year life span and can no longer be fixed with routine patch-ups, said State Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
He said nearly half of all federal roads in the State are classified as Condition 5, the worst rating under the Public Works Department’s road condition index.
“These roads have exceeded their life span, needing major upgrades, which were delayed mainly due to funding constraints,” he said in response to remarks by his predecessor, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also Sabah Umno Chief.
Bung had claimed that potholes were quickly repaired during the Barisan Nasional administration.
Shahelmey said while the Government’s focus is now on completing the Pan Borneo Highway, maintenance work is also ongoing for federal roads.
“The Prime Minister on Saturday addressed this in the development briefing between the State and the Federal governments,” he told reporters after an iftar event, here.
Shahelmey, who is also Deputy Chief Minister III, said road maintenance from the State Capital to the East Coast had faced a backlog since Bung’s tenure, attributing the roads’ rapid deterioration to increased traffic, particularly involving heavy machinery.
“This is why we are requesting additional allocations from the Federal Government to upgrade and maintain the dilapidated federal roads.
“We hope the allocations will be increased. We have identified four key locations, including Paitan and parts of Kalabakan, where work is currently ongoing but has been delayed for the past two months due to adverse weather conditions,” he said.
Shahelmey said two locations along the Keningau-Kimanis road, which were cut off by landslides earlier this month, are now accessible again following slope repair work and debris clearing.
“However, these are only temporary measures to ensure the road remains usable. The Public Works Department will carry out design work for more permanent slope stabilisation.
“The road is now passable, but road users are advised to exercise caution, especially during rainy weather, as the area remains exposed without turfing and other stabilising measures,” he said.
