KOTA KINABALU: Maintenance of city roads has come into focus after the death of a motorcyclist who hit a pothole on the Lido flyover here.
Sabah opposition Parti Warisan has questioned the effectiveness of road maintenance being carried out in light of the tragedy.
Its Kota Kinabalu division information chief Samuel Wong said the incident on Monday (Feb 3) need not have occurred with proper maintenance of the roads.
“Shouldn’t the government ensure that contractors upkeep roads properly to keep them safe for users? Why does it always take a tragedy before action is taken?” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 4).
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Wong said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Pakatan Harapan state administration should ensure the people's safety on public roads.
"The incident reflects broader issues with Sabah’s infrastructure," he said.
The motorcyclist died after being thrown 6m on hitting the pothole, which Wong said had been there for some time.
He said potholes were a common sight on roads in Kota Kinabalu and it was unfair for taxpayers to put up with such conditions, especially when it concerns their safety.
“Why should Sabahans be subjected to this? People pay taxes, and the government must guarantee safe roads,” he added.
He urged Deputy Chief Minister III and state Works Minister Datuk Shahelmy Yahya to explain why road maintenance remained a problem, with private companies contracted for such jobs.
It is learnt that the pothole in question was patched up by the company concerned on Tuesday, along with several others along Jalan Lintas.
