Sabah to improve rail system that's slower than a 'kerbau' now

From left: Zahra, Mohd Shafie, Chong and Azis posing for a photo after the launching of "Youngpreneurs, Go!" carnival at UMS on Saturday.

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is looking into improving its railway system which Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has described as being slower than a "kerbau" (water buffalo). 

Mohd Shafie said the Government has instructed the state-level Public Works Department (JKR) and Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to construct a transportation plan to ensure that the people will not have to depend solely on the ongoing Pan Borneo Highway project to connect major towns across Sabah and Sarawak. 

He added that it was necessary to improve the current railway system as the cost of road maintenance can be very high and travel by road can be time-consuming compared to trains. 

"We are constructing a port in Kudat that will require a railway system for the transportation of goods and services to the market. 

"Not only we have to change the train carriages, but also the railway tracks, because it moves very slow. Even the kerbau moves faster," he said with a smile. 

Sabah currently uses the narrow-gauge railway, with train services provided from Kota Kinabalu to Papar, Beaufort, Tenom and back.

Mohd Shafie said the current system was not linked up to the major population centres. 

"It might be a very costly endeavour, but the (new) system does not have to be a sophisticated one. But we need to at least expedite the train speed. 

"I am confident that we are able to beef up the railway system in two or three years," he told reporters at the launching of the "Youngpreneurs, Go!" carnival at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) on Saturday (Oct 27).  

Mohd Shafie commended the initiative by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) to encourage students and youths to venture into the fields of business and entrepreneurship.

Also present at the event were Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen, Sepanggar MP Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman, UMS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr D Kamarudin D Mudin and SSM chief executive officer Datuk Zahrah Abd Wahab Fenner.