BEAUFORT: The contractor for Pan Borneo Highway (LPB) Package 2, covering the Kampung Melalia, Sipitang-Beaufort alignment, has been ordered to expedite repairs on damaged sections affecting road user safety and comfort.
Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry and Lumadan Assemblyman Datuk Ruslan Muharam issued the directive, stressing that repairs must be carried out immediately, particularly along the Batu 5 to Batu 7 stretch between Lumadan and Bukau.
He said the affected section is in critical condition due to severe damage and has generated numerous public complaints.
One of the complainants, politician Mohd Norizuan Awang, told the Daily Express that many road users had raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the road, especially between Lumadan and Bukau, which has become extremely difficult to navigate during the current rainy season.
He urged the Public Works Department (JKR) to carry out immediate maintenance on the Lumadan-Bukau road, which is badly damaged and riddled with large potholes, causing serious inconvenience to motorists.
Over the past few days, he said, numerous vehicles, particularly smaller ones such as motorcycles, had been damaged after hitting potholes, with some riders being thrown off their bikes.
“JKR should urgently improve this road to ensure it is safe and convenient for users. Recently, a motorcycle hit a large pothole that was not visible, leading to an accident,” he said.
Mohd Norizuan noted that many potholes are submerged due to rainwater overflow, making them difficult to detect.
As a result, riders and motorists are often unaware of the danger until their vehicles are damaged, including suffering burst tyres.
He added that there are numerous large potholes along the stretch, most of which remain waterlogged after heavy rain, raising serious concerns over road safety.
According to him, only after the issue went viral on Facebook did JKR allow motorists to use a diverted road alongside the damaged section.
However, the alternative route has yet to be upgraded and may not withstand prolonged use, eventually deteriorating in the same manner.
“It must be remembered that this road is not only used by local residents, but also serves as a main route for travellers from Sarawak and Brunei,” he said.
He added that the poor condition of the road is an embarrassment to visitors from Sarawak and Brunei who travel through the area daily and could negatively affect the tourism industry, as tourist buses travel to Weston every day.
With the election long over, he said the Lumadan Assemblyman and Sipitang Member of Parliament Datuk Matbali Musah should not remain silent or indifferent to the ongoing road problem.
