TAWAU: Sri Tanjong Assemblyman Justin Wong again urged the Government to stop construction of traffic roundabouts along Jalan Sin Onn.
He said the plan to build two roundabouts was shortsighted and dismissive of public opinion.
“This project risks worsening traffic congestion and contradicts the principle of putting people first,” he said, adding it failed to consider the long-term interests of the community.
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');});Wong, instead, called for Jalan Sin Onn to be upgraded into a dual carriageway, which he said would bring genuine long-term development to the area and surrounding neighbourhoods.
“I appeal to the Ministry of Finance to reconsider and upgrade the road to a dual carriageway,” he said, questioning why that option was not chosen.
He said the project appears one-sided and short-term in nature, potentially slowing down traffic flow in key areas such as Pasar Sin On, nearby residential zones, supermarkets and commercial lots.
He also raised safety concerns, pointing out that one of the roundabouts is being built next to SJK (C) Hing Hwa, which could pose risks to schoolchildren and parents.
According to Wong, the project received objections from more than 7,000 Tawau residents who signed a petition launched in March. The signatures were collected over three weeks and submitted to the State Government and Public Works Department (JKR), but the project still went ahead.
“I even held discussions with JKR, but they couldn’t guarantee that traffic would improve after the roundabouts are built. Nor could they confirm whether the risk of accidents would increase,” he said.
The roundabouts are part of the Whiterose City development project, approved by JKR on April 29, 2022. The plan included roundabout construction based on a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) report, which has yet to be made public.