The Sabah Works Ministry is tackling the challenge of aging roads, many of which have exceeded their intended lifespan
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Ir. Shahelmey Yahya said the Pan Borneo Highway project remains a key focus, but other roads, including federal, state, district, and rural roads, are not being neglected.
“The construction of the Pan Borneo Highway is indeed a mega project that we have been anticipating and prioritizing, and alhamdulillah, it is now in the construction phase,” Shahelmey said during a visit to Tawau on Thursday.
“Meanwhile, there are other road alignments, and we know that in Sabah, most roads have exceeded their intended lifespan.
“Nevertheless, we have concessionaires who are responsible for maintaining these roads, including federal, state, district, and municipal roads,” he said.
Shahelmey added that district-level Public Works Department (JKR) staff are being reminded to remain vigilant in monitoring road conditions.
“What is important, and what we often remind our staff in the districts, is to always be attentive to road conditions.
“We know that potholes on the road surface do not appear overnight, but if left unattended, coupled with wet weather, the condition of the road can deteriorate quickly,” he said.
“That is the task of JKR staff and the road maintenance concessionaires — to ensure they carry out the routine maintenance as specified in the contracts they have received,” Shahelmey added.
In addition to road maintenance, the ministry is working on solutions to Sabah’s water supply challenges, including illegal pipe connections, aging infrastructure, frequent pipe bursts, and insufficient water sources.
“For short-term measures, we are cutting illegal pipe connections, replacing leaking pipes, and distributing clean water via tanker trucks,” Shahelmey said.
“In addition, we are focusing on improving efficiency at water treatment plants, where sometimes pumps or old equipment need to be repaired or replaced,” he explained.
In Tawau, the ongoing construction of a water dam is expected to address the district’s water supply issues once completed in 2026.
“In the Tawau area, the water supply is becoming increasingly limited compared to demand. Therefore, we are building the Tawau water dam, which is expected to be completed by 2026. Once completed, the amount of raw water available for treatment will be sufficient for the long term,” Shahelmey said.
Shahelmey made these remarks during his visit to inspect the RM206 million Jalan Utara Baru upgrading project, which spans 5.4 kilometers and is expected to be completed by January 2027. – January 24, 2025.
