KOTA KINABALU: The condition of the Tawau-Semporna road, where two tourists were killed in an accident earlier this week, was good, says Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.

       “The road (at KM37.3 of Jalan Balung- Semporna) condition at the location is good with visible road markings and transverse bars,” Shahelmey, who is state Works Minister, said Thursday (Mar 14).

       He declined to elaborate on the matter following calls for upgrade works to be carried out at the East coast Sabah road from Tawau to Semporna, where reports of serious accidents have occurred along the stretch previously.

       On Monday (March 11), two tourists - a Singaporean and a Vietnamese - were killed and five others injured after the tour van they were travelling in was involved in a three-vehicle collision involving a trailer lorry and a lorry.

       Following the incident, state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said that more attention must be given to enhance road safety as it involved Sabah’s tourism image.

       She hoped authorities would explore ways to further enhance road safety aspects with the authorities concerned to ensure similar mishaps do not occur in the future.

       Such safety measures were needed especially at accident-prone stretches like the Jalan Tawau – Semporna, she said.

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       Asked if there were any plans to upgrade the Tawau -Semporna road dual carriageway, Shahelmey said there were no immediate plans for now.

       However, he said the Sabah Public Works Department (PWD) was committed to ensuring the road is safe and passable at all times.

       “They will be monitoring safety compliance and reassessing the speed limit to prevent future accidents,” he added.

       On the long-term plans, he said that the PWD highway section has listed the proposed upgrading of the Tawau-Semporna road into a dual carriageway under the Highway Network Development Plan (HNDP 2040).

       Police said that the accident was believed to have occurred when the trailer driver lost control of the vehicle, went into the opposite lane and crashed into the oncoming van carrying tourists to Semporna.