Kota Kinabalu: A concerned grandmother had spoken out about the worsening road conditions near St Francis Convent Primary and Secondary schools and the Kinabalu International School, urging authorities to take immediate action after months of delay.
Mary Kan, who commutes daily to send and fetch her grandchildren, described the junction leading to the schools as dilapidated and unsafe.
She noted that excavation works began more than six months ago but have since remained unfinished, with no visible progress.
“I urge the newly sworn-in Minister and the Director of JKR to ‘turun padang’ and see for yourselves the condition of the junction,” she stressed. She said the prolonged delay had caused continuous inconveniences and safety concerns, especially for parents sending their children on motorcycles.
She said six months is far too long for a simple junction repair. The public deserves transparency and immediate action, as the issue involves matters of life and death.
Mary, who is also the past President of the Sabah Childcare Association, recalled witnessing a motorbike wheel getting stuck in a pothole along the road, highlighting the dangers posed by the neglected site.
Since small children and school-going students use the road daily, their safety is constantly at risk. Motorists are forced to take chances; safe if they are lucky, but facing costly consequences if not.
She said it is both absurd and unacceptable that the authorities appear indifferent to the public’s safety, especially when the lives of children are involved.
She added that the uneven road surface has been causing long-term damage to vehicles, with repair costs borne entirely by the motorists themselves.
“It is really unfair for the people to shoulder these expenses when the problem stems from poor road maintenance,” she said.
She stressed that the authorities must conduct spot checks to ensure tender processes are properly carried out and that contractors meet their obligations.
Residents and parents alike are calling for urgent intervention, warning that the unfinished road works not only inconvenience daily commutes but also pose serious safety risks to schoolchildren and the wider community.
