SANDAKAN: Elopura Assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun conducted a follow-up visit to the project site along Mile 1.5 Jalan Utara a main route to the city centre, which remains incomplete nearly three years after the project sign was erected.
What should have been a beneficial infrastructure project has instead become a symbol of unreasonable delay and poor management, posing daily safety risks to road users.
The incomplete roadworks, lack of progress, and absence of clear information on the project’s status are deeply concerning.
Based on reports and site observations, this is the second accident to occur since the project began. This is no longer an isolated issue; recurring accidents at an abandoned project site highlight a real and imminent risk that demands immediate action.
Previously, Chong had directly urged the Public Works Department (JKR) to expedite the project and implement interim safety measures. Despite these demands made in the public interest, no concrete action is visible at the site – no physical progress and no clear mitigation measures to prevent further accidents.
In response, JKR stated the project is not under the relevant officer’s purview and will be retendered soon. They apologized for the inconvenience and advised that issues be raised via formal letter. Regarding the accidents, they advised those involved to file police reports and submit copies to the JKR office for investigation.
Chong asserts that such responses cannot excuse the lack of a real solution. Vague statements like “will be retendered soon” without a clear timeline offer no assurance to the public. They deserve to know the exact retender date, when physical work will resume, and what interim safety measures will be implemented.
This issue transcends administrative procedure or contractor changes. It concerns public safety and the responsibility owed to daily road users – people commuting to work, sending children to school, and running errands. With accidents already occurring, the key question is: who takes responsibility for the risk borne by the public?
Chong has escalated the matter by filing an official complaint with JKR Putrajaya to secure serious attention. A delay of nearly three years cannot be addressed with generic answers. The people of Sandakan deserve a clear resolution, not repeated explanations without action.
Chong reiterates his demand for immediate and decisive action. A delay of nearly three years is unacceptable. The public must not continue to be victims of delays and uncertainty. Safety must be prioritized, and concrete solutions must be implemented without further delay. – James Leong
Chong visits the road project site at Mile 1.5 Jalan Utara again on Thursday.
