A government MP has highlighted the dire condition of roads in Sabah, describing them as “chronic” and likening daily travel to “driving on the moon,” with vehicles at constant risk of damage.
During the oral question session in Parliament today, Kinabatangan MP Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar asked if there were differences in maintenance standards between federal roads in Peninsular Malaysia and those in Sabah.
“The roads in Sabah are in such poor condition. Are there different maintenance approaches for federal roads in Peninsular Malaysia versus Sabah? The contrast is striking. Roads in Sabah are so bad that people say it’s like driving on the moon; cars break down every day,” he said.
In response, Deputy Public Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan acknowledged the issues in Sabah, noting that he personally visited 25 parliamentary constituencies in the state to assess road conditions firsthand.
He explained that maintenance depends on the road category, with some roads under federal jurisdiction and others managed by the state government.
“I have visited most areas in Sabah from May to November over six months and saw what the Kinabatangan MP mentioned; there are roads that are still unpaved. For 2025, the government has allocated RM341.7 million for road maintenance in Sabah. We are aware that roads vary—federal roads and highways are maintained by the Public Works Department (JKR), while state and municipal roads fall under state responsibilities,” Ahmad said.
Addressing the original question from Zahari Kechik (Jeli) on maintenance allocations by state, Ahmad said the Public Works Department, including JKR Sabah and JKR Sarawak, manages a total of 18,705.930 km of federal roads. This includes 14,973.930 km in Peninsular Malaysia, 1,536.949 km in Sabah, 2,055.920 km in Sarawak, and 139.131 km in the Federal Territory of Labuan.
He added that in 2024, the Public Works Ministry allocated RM2.48 billion for routine maintenance, periodic pavement and non-pavement repairs, minor bridge maintenance, and maintenance of streetlights and traffic signals. For 2025, the allocation will increase to RM2.96 billion, a rise of RM490 million, to cover maintenance carried out by concession companies and JKR through departmental procurement.
