KOTA KINABALU: All district offices in Sabah have been asked to provide an update on roads in their areas that require upgrading or maintenance.

       State Public Works Department (JKR) director Datuk Ali Ahmad Hamid said the Works Ministry was asking for this information so that it could expedite the process of repairing any roads that were damaged.

       “For roads not under our ministry’s purview whose conditions have been verified, the ministry can assist in applying for funds and directing attention to the relevant parties.

       “We admit it is hard to avoid public perception when the issue of damaged roads is always tied to the Public Works Department, even though some roads are not under our jurisdiction,” he said.

       According to Ali, there are several road categories that are not Sabah JKR’s responsibility, such as federal roads, agriculture and plantation roads, or those belonging to other agencies.

       He said when it came to roads where the jurisdiction was unclear, the information would make it easier for follow-up action such as assisting the relevant district office to add the road to the Malaysia Road Record Information System and Sabah Road Record Information System.

       “The department will then be able to send its men to measure and identify the road,” he said.

       “Of course, if an immediate allocation cannot be obtained for this year, we can apply for it next year – this is why the department needs this data on roads from the district offices.”

       He said so far, three district offices had cooperated and sent the needed information, and the state Local Government and Housing Ministry had been instructed to engage with those district offices.