RANAU: The Kundasang-Kauluan-Pinausok Road upgrade project is expected to be completed in September 2026, said Ranau Member of Parliament, Datuk Jonathan Yasin.
He said the project, which involves upgrading the 8km stretch to JKR R2 specifications and constructing a bridge, was approved in 2020 at a cost of RM48.6 million.
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He added that the project is currently under construction, with physical progress at 23 per cent as of August 31, 2025, and that JKR Sabah is the implementing agency.
He said the information was obtained from a written reply regarding the Kundasang–Kundasang Lama–Kinaundusan–Semuruh–Pinausok road upgrade project in the Dewan Rakyat Question Notice of the Third Meeting, Fourth Term of the Fifteenth Parliament in 2025.
In his oral question, Jonathan asked the Minister of Rural and Regional Development when the Government would conduct a study to upgrade the road.
According to him, villagers have long requested the road upgrade as it is crucial for local economic activities and serves as an important alternative route when the main road is damaged.
Meanwhile, the post received many responses from netizens, most of whom thanked the MP for raising the issue and the government for finally providing much-needed development in the area.
However, several users questioned why physical progress remains at only 23 per cent despite the project being approved five years ago.
The Kundasang–Kauluan–Pinausok Road is one of several alternative routes in Ranau used daily by villagers and becomes vital during landslides along the Ranau–Kota Kinabalu main road.
Road congestion in Ranau, especially during festive seasons, continues to frustrate road users, with journeys that normally take 20 minutes stretching to up to two hours.
The road in question also serves as an alternative route to bypass severe congestion but has remained in poor condition for a long time.
Recently, Chairman of the Kundasang Ranau Tourism and Culture Association, Datuk Japiril Suhaimin, said the issue has persisted since 2015, a decade, with no concrete action taken by the authorities.
He said the Pan Borneo Highway section crossing Ranau must be built urgently, considering the pressing need.
“People ask, is this 10-year period not enough to plan, approve, and secure financial allocations to upgrade the roads?” he questioned.
