KOTA KINABALU: A former chief minister has called for all temporary operations at the city port near the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here to be relocated to Sepanggar.
Datuk Yong Teck Lee said since the diversion of some port operations from Sepanggar to Kota Kinabalu Port earlier this year, one issue has spiralled into three problems.
He said the relocation left a trail of damaged infrastructure, severe public nuisance, and a hefty repair bill.
"First, heavy traffic previously rendered the bridge at KM2.8 along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens unsafe, forcing its closure and replacement with a temporary bridge under strict weight and height limits.
"If heavy haulage continues, this will happen to the remaining old bridges along the road," Yong, a former Likas assemblyman, cautioned on Tuesday (Oct 20).
Following the bridge closure, he said heavy haulers were directed onto Signal Hill Park Road, transferring the destructive burden onto another road under Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), he claimed.
Yong said that Signal Hill Park Road is now also badly damaged and posing traffic hazards, in addition to the daily noise and dust pollution in nearby residential areas.
"Third, this damage comes with a hefty repair bill, estimated at half a million ringgit for Signal Hill Park Road alone.
"Will the Public Works Department (JKR) restore the road to its original condition, or will DBKK have to foot the bill?" he asked.
He said KK Port is not designed to handle heavy cargo, but limited to roll-on, roll-off motor vehicles.
Instead, large containers and heavy metal coils are now routinely shipped through KK Port, residential areas and Tuaran Road, he said.
Yong said now that 24-hour operations have been approved for Sepanggar Port, all temporary operations at KK Port should be diverted back there immediately to prevent further destruction to inner-city roads.
"Government departments and agencies must work as a unified team to resolve these issues instead of simply passing them from one agency to another," he said.
