JKR engineers urged to carry out works according to specifications
KOTA KINABALU - Engineers from the district level Public Works Department (JKR) are urged to not waste government funds while carrying out upgrading or maintenance works of the roads in the state.
Sabah Public Works Minister Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya said this in response to an issue which went viral about a road being damaged again after a road widening work at Jalan Gum-Gum in Sandakan recently.
"This is in connection with the viral news on social media regarding the widening of the roundabout in Gum-Gum and we found that it was done poorly and the ground was being filled and paved without a thorough inspection being carried out.
"When a heavy vehicle passes by it, the road would be damaged and we have instructed the concessions to carry out repair works within this year.
"To district engineers, sometimes due to financial constraints, the scope of work has to be reduced, but also consider whether the work can still meet the specifications or not," he said when met by reporters after officiating the Smart Jawab Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) programme at Dewan Besar Maktab Sabah, here, today.
Shahelmey who was also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister said despite JKR's efforts looking for other alternatives due to financial constraints, it must ensure the quality from concessions was satisfactory and the road conditions can last long.
“The financial constraints should not be a reason to choose option B at the cost of sustainability.
“If we choose option B it should be resilient. Don’t do anything that only wastes the government's funds and we ask those involved to strictly monitor the works before giving an approval,” he said.
It was reported that the condition of a road had deteriorated again three weeks after the Kembara Kenali Borneo tour by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Billah Shah.
A portion of the roads had once again turned into a ‘moon-like surface’ when several pictures of the damaged roads were shared on social media.
