Urging this was Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah, in response to the plight of a group of 63 tourists from Limbang, Sarawak, who had to abruptly abort their trip to visit the Mabul Island and its adjacent Kapalai Island, off Semporna, recently, due to a bad road condition along the controversial Sapulut-Kalabakan Road.
According to the group's leader cum spokesman, Dennis Shaw they had to turn back at the said stretch of bad road, which is estimated to be about 150 Kilometres away from Tawau.
Chong noted that the said stretch of road is part of the 179 Kilometers Sapulut-Kalabakan Road and is currently still unsealed, despite its construction been completed sometime in early 2008, at a cost of RM565 million.
It later became a major controversy when Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Tawau Chief Datuk Kong Hong Ming lodged two separate reports with the then Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) over serious irregularities in its construction, once with the ACA Tawau on July 3, 2008 and the other time with ACA Kota Kinabalu on August 11, also in the same year. The irregularities concerning its construction were later mentioned in the Auditor General's Report in 2009.
Chong also claimed to have reliably learnt that the original construction cost for the said road, to be completed with bituminous pavement, was priced at RM485 million. Unfortunately, when it was completed in early 2008, it was only a standard gravel road, until this day.
"What happened to our visitors from Limbang recently is indeed a major disgrace to Sabah. As a Sabahan, I really feel ashamed and I also feel sorry for our visitors for the ordeal and disappointment that they had to go through because of the bad road condition," said Chong after listening to the plight of the group, during a meeting held here today.
Besides this, he also called on the relevant authorities like the State Infrastructure Development Ministry and State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry to pay serious attention to condition of infrastructures in the state, especially those leading to the popular tourist destinations.
"The relevant authorities should at least put up proper signage along the affected stretch of road to caution the road users of the potential danger ahead. But, what is more important is to ensure a prompt remedy to the affected stretch of road. And if this cannot be done immediately, then the best thing to do is probably to close the road. We just can't afford to have any untoward incident to happen to both our own people, as well as the visitors from outside Sabah," he asserted.
"It is also very misleading to call it an 'expressway' when it is in such a deplorable condition," he added.
Earlier, Shaw lamented that the aspiration of his group to visit their "dream destinations" in Sabah – Mabul Island and its nearby Kapalai Island off Semporna, had been dashed, simply due to a bad road condition.
This was especially true when it took them close to two months to prepare for the said trip.
Traveling in a convoy of 13 vehicles, they started their journey on June 6 at 6am, entering Sabah from Sipitang. They then drove all the way to Tenom, Keningau and heading towards Tawau, via the Sapulut – Kalabakan Road.
But upon reaching the said stretch of road, at around 5pm, all their excitements and aspirations were dashed, and their hearts literally sank.
"We dare not to take the risk to proceed after we saw a land cruiser and a logging truck too had to turn back, with the help of other vehicles pulling them out from the muddy track.
"The land cruiser driver also told us that the condition of the stretch ahead was even worse, as it was filled with water, and that he had only managed to get out with the help of some villagers," related Shaw, adding that they were very disappointed and frustrated with what happened.
He also noted that after turning back, they were almost stranded halfway before reaching Keningau, due to insufficient fuel. Fortunately we managed to buy some fuel from a nearby village on our way back to Keningau. By the time they reached Keningau, it was already 10pm.
And another problem - accommodation then cropped up, as most of the hotels there were fully booked due to the hosting of the Sabah Games V by the district.
"Fortunately, the operator of Tam's Café Keningau was very kind to allow us to put up at his place for the night. Otherwise, it would be torturous for us as there were young children and elderly folks among our group members. We wish to take this opportunity to express our utmost gratitude to Mr Tam for his kindness and warm hospitality," said Shaw.
Besides this, he also appealed to the various hotels and tour operators not to forfeit their deposit money for failing to turn up, due to the unforeseen circumstances. He also promised that they would return again in November, this year.
"Even though we are very disappointed and frustrated with what happened, we are nonetheless determined to come back in November (this year). And we hope the relevant authorities here could take note of our plight and would do something to repair the various problematic stretches along the Sapulut-Kalabakan Road," he said.
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