By The Borneo Post onSabah
Justin Wong
KOTA KINABALU (Apr 15): Sri Tanjong assemblyman Justin Wong questioned in the State Assembly whether the people of Tawau were being punished for electing him in the last election.
“I am disappointed that the State Government has not upgraded Jalan Sin Onn to a two-lane road, despite it being fully under the state’s jurisdiction. Why are the people of Tawau being denied development? Is it because they elected me as their representative in the last election? Is this a form of punishment for their democratic choice?” he said.
Earlier, Justin highlighted the continued lack of sufficient public health infrastructure in Tawau, which he said is essential for serving the community effectively.
“Public health remains a primary concern for the people in my constituency. While Tawau Hospital now has a new building with additional beds, many operational and service-related issues remain unresolved.
“For instance, I understand that Tawau Hospital has been upgraded to a fourth-tier hospital, yet to this day, it still does not have a resident cardiologist. What is the point of having a new building if there are not enough doctors?” he lamented.
He reminded the House that Sabah, with a land area equivalent to at least five states in Peninsular Malaysia combined, presents unique challenges in healthcare accessibility. The reality is that the distance from Tawau to Kota Kinabalu poses a serious concern for residents in need of emergency heart surgery.
“Only the wealthy can afford to book a private jet,” he said. “But for the poor and those in the B40 group, they have no choice but to rely on road transport — a journey that takes more than seven hours.
“Imagine the chances of survival for someone who needs to be transported all the way to Kota Kinabalu for urgent treatment. I would like to ask the Health Exco — if this happened to him, would he travel for treatment in Kota Kinabalu?”
“In my opinion, the time has come for the State Government to take firm action — including considering direct involvement in federal matters when it concerns the lives and safety of the people,” he said.
He reminded the House that people’s lives are not something to be taken lightly.
“Don’t play with people’s lives,” he said. “Sometimes I have to ask — why are the people here treated like second-class citizens in Malaysia? Is it because of the government’s failure to defend the rights and welfare of the people?”
He added that staff shortages are rarely, if ever, heard of in Peninsular Malaysia.
“Even in Sarawak, they have taken proactive steps by partnering with pharmaceutical companies to offer incentives and payments to medical officers. By the end of this year, they are expected to employ around 40 additional staff members,” he said.
Justin also pointed out that in 2020, when Senallang (Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal) was the Chief Minister of Sabah, he contributed RM1 million to several federal departments — including the hospital — to support efforts in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is proof that the State Government can act proactively when there is the will to do so,” he said.
In his debate, Justin also urged the government to cancel the proposed construction of two additional roundabouts along Jalan Sin Onn in Tawau, arguing that it would likely worsen traffic congestion in the area.
He added that the people of Tawau have expressed their dissatisfaction with the construction, and he had raised the matter with the relevant minister last year, hoping the project would be reconsidered, as it is likely to worsen traffic congestion.
“I met with the minister at his office and submitted a letter dated 14th April 2024, requesting a review of the project. Unfortunately, my application was completely ignored,” he said.
“Now, construction work has begun.
“Is the government truly standing for the will of the people? Has the minister ever visited Tawau to assess the real traffic situation on the ground? Is constructing additional roundabouts the only solution? We’re talking about two additional roundabouts within a 700-meter stretch. There are already two existing roundabouts along a 1.6-kilometer stretch of road. This means there will be a total of four roundabouts in this short stretch. Where is the logic?”
He added that the area already has more than 10 roundabouts within a three-kilometer radius.
“If this project continues, Jalan Sin Onn will face the same problems seen at Jalan Chong Tet Vun or Jalan Bundusan in Penampang, with traffic jams occurring not only during peak hours but also outside of peak hours. The difference is that those two roads are two-lane, while Jalan Sin Onn is only a single lane.”
He urged the government to halt the project to construct two roundabouts.
“I am disappointed that the state government has not upgraded Jalan Sin Onn to a two-lane road, even though it falls entirely under the state government’s jurisdiction. Why are the people of Tawau being denied development? Is it because they elected me as their representative in the last election? Is this a form of punishment for their democratic choice?”
“I urge the government to stop this project immediately and replace it with one that upgrades the road to a two-lane structure. If this issue continues to be ignored, I believe the people will make their voices heard when the election comes.”
He also mentioned that three weeks ago, he launched a petition to oppose the project and has since collected 7,000 signatures from his constituents, including parents of school-going children who are affected by the project.
“Isn’t this enough to prove the people’s rejection of the project? Don’t say the government has no money. The state government has announced that their revenue has reached billions of ringgit every year for the past five years, yet they are unable to upgrade a stretch of road that’s only 1.6 kilometers long.”
