Sabah JKR ordered to fix pothole after fatal incident in Kinabatangan

KOTA KINABALU: The state Public Works Department (JKR) has been directed to immediately repair a road in the Kinabatangan district following the tragedy of a garbage truck driver crushed to death by his vehicle after he tried to avoid a pothole at the stretch.

Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said he had discussed the issue with the state JKR director on Monday (Jan 15) after the accident at Jalan Kampung Jaya Baru last week.

“After the meeting, the JKR director ordered the road concessionaire to mobilise its workers to undertake appropriate repairs in the area concerned to make the road condition safer for use,” said the State Works Minister in a statement here on Tuesday (Jan 16).

It is believed that the victim, Mohamad Izuan Mambasang, 39, tried to avoid a pothole near SK Sentosa Jaya when the accident happened at around 11am on Saturday (Jan 13).

Road concession workers repairing the road in Kinabatangan.

News reports of the incident quickly went viral amid the issue of bad road conditions in the state.

Shahelmey explained that the Jalan Kampung Jaya Baru is part of the Pan Borneo Highway network that may be upgraded this year.

He said the road structure is decrepit and can only be improved through a major upgrade under the highway project.

“The weather factor including wet conditions due to the rainy season as well as the high volume of traffic have added to the strain on the road, which has long gone beyond its structural design timeframe.

“However, as we wait for this Pan Borneo Highway package to start, the JKR through its concessionaire has been instructed to carry out the necessary maintenance and repair works,” he said.

Shahelmey added that he had also told the state JKR director to obtain the cooperation of all district and road maintenance engineers as well as road concessionaires to be proactive in monitoring the stretches under their watch.

“Reports must be updated for management reasons and the need to apply for additional allocations,” he said.