Call for action against overloaded trucks plying Kalabakan-Sapulut road
TAWAU: Stern action should be taken against overloaded trucks operating along the KalabakanSapulut road that have caused serious damage to the road and rendering it a safety issue.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sabah secretary cum Sri Tanjung assemblyman Chan Foong Hin questioned as to why no action has been taken against these overloaded logging and oil palm trucks operating along the Kalabakan-Sapulut road.
According to him, the Infrastructure Development Ministry, in its written answer in the State Assembly, had admitted that the major factor causing the road damage was the uncontrolled and rampant overloading of trucks transporting logs and oil palms along the road.
The written reply stated that the Public Works Department (JKR) had conducted a series of meetings with the Road Transport Department (JPJ), Sabah Forestry Department and the police seeking a joint effort to address the issue. One of the actions was to insist that the Ministry of Transport and its agency set up a vehicle weighing facility to monitor and control the weight of road trucks to ensure the longevity and safety of the road.
Chan said the entire KalabakanSapulut road had cost the people RM920 million, and it was supposed to be built as a highway. Sadly, however, the 145 km road is riddled with potholes, sink holes and uneven road shoulders, rendering it dangerous to the road users as accidents could happen easily.
As a frequent road user, he claimed he would often see overloaded logging trucks on the road on almost every trip that he took from Tawau to Kota Kinabalu via the Kalabakan-Sapulut road.
Chan urged the government to expedite the process to set up a weigh-bridge or rest complex to monitor the usage of the road. He believed the location has been identified, which is not far from the entrance of the road leading to the Maliau Basin.
However, he said before the weigh-bridge or rest complex is ready for operation, he hoped to see some stern action taken to penalize the overloaded logging trucks that are enjoying lucrative profits at the expense of road damage and inconvenience and safety of ordinary road users.