KOTA KINABALU – Sabah will seek Putrajaya’s aid to repair the damaged Kinabalu National Park parking lot, said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
The public works minister said there is an urgent need to repair KM20 of the Tamparuli-Ranau road to avoid potential landslides in the future.
Bung Moktar said the particular damaged stretch is not the main road connecting Kota Kinabalu and Ranau, but repairs need to be carried out instantly before the damage extends to the main federal road.
“We will prepare the working paper and cost for the repairs and forward it to the federal government,” he told The Vibes when met at Kota Kinabalu International Airport here today.
Bung said it was important to make the necessary repairs as the national park is a tourist hotspot and the particular damaged area is where visitors are allowed to park their vehicles before visiting the nature park.
The particular road also connects Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.
It is understood the landslide near the national park happened around 1am early this morning, said by local police to be caused by continuous heavy rainfall over Sabah for the past few days.
Bung Moktar said drivers going through the particular stretch can use the alternative Bundu Tuhan Kinasaraban road to get to their destinations.
Warning signs have been installed and the Public Works Department will do temporary repairs to stop further damage or landslides in the particular area.
On the landslide near the Paitan water treatment plant, Bung Moktar said the ministry will use state emergency funds to repair the damages.
“The quarters building were damaged while operations in the treatment plant still continue,” he said.
Sabah Water Department director Edward Lingkapo said assessment would be done to determine the damages incurred.
“The department will prepare the cost for repairs once the report is completed,” said Lingkapo, adding that the treatment plant is being operated by a concessionaire.
The VIbes had earlier reported two major landslides involving the Kinabalu National Park parking lot and the Paitan treatment plant in Beluran some 300km from here. – The Vibes, January 20, 2021
