By Ts Dr. Hj Ramli Amir, former President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Malaysia and Vice-President of CILT International for Southeast Asia
KOTA KINABALU: For decades, the Tamparuli-Ranau road stretch in Sabah has become synonymous with unbearable traffic congestion during festive seasons. The recent Hari Raya holiday was no exception, with travellers enduring up to half a day on a journey that typically takes just 30 minutes.
The frustration expressed on social media—families stranded for hours, passengers abandoning buses, and motorists resorting to roadside meals—paints a grim picture of a long-ignored crisis.
Despite being a predictable annual occurrence, the government has failed to implement sustainable solutions, leaving Sabahans to suffer needlessly. It is high time for urgent, decisive action to address this decades-old issue.
A Recurring Nightmare with No Permanent Fix
Every year, the same scenes unfold bumper-to-bumper traffic stretching from National Park to Ranau, turning what should be a short trip into an ordeal. The root causes are well-known—inadequate road capacity, poor traffic management, and lack of viable alternative routes. Yet, year after year, authorities offer no long-term remedies, only temporary palliatives like traffic police deployment or vague promises of future upgrades.
The Tamparuli-Ranau stretch is Sabah’s lifeline to the east coast, connecting major districts like Sandakan, Lahad Datu, and Tawau. With economic activity and population growth increasing, the strain on this single-lane highway has worsened.
The so-called alternative routes—such as the Kota Kinabalu-Tambunan-Ranau Road or the Keningau-Kalabakan route—are either underdeveloped or impractical for most travellers.
The government’s failure to expand and modernize this critical infrastructure is a glaring neglect of public welfare.
Economic and Social Consequences
The repercussions of this congestion extend beyond mere inconvenience. Lost productivity, increased fuel consumption, and heightened stress levels take a toll on families and businesses alike.
Some travellers, like Mariana Manan, spent 14 hours on a trip from Penampang to Sandakan—time that could have been spent meaningfully with loved ones. Others, like bus passengers forced to disembark mid-journey, faced unnecessary hardship.
Moreover, the recurring gridlock discourages tourism, a vital sector for Sabah’s economy. Visitors expecting scenic drives to Kundasang or Kinabalu National Park are instead met with endless traffic jams, tarnishing the state’s reputation as a travel destination.
Decades of Delays Demand Immediate Action
The persistent congestion along the Tamparuli-Ranau route has long passed the point of being tolerable. Despite minor upgrades and intermittent maintenance, the overall condition and capacity of the infrastructure remain largely unchanged, and insufficient to support growing vehicular traffic, tourism flows, and emergency mobility.
The government cannot claim to be unaware of the issue, as it has endured for more than three decades. What is required now is not more piecemeal adjustments but a clear, bold, and immediate intervention strategy. The following measures provide a comprehensive roadmap to transform the corridor into a safe, efficient, and sustainable transport lifeline.
Road Expansion and Dual-Carriageway Development
The Tamparuli-Ranau highway, a vital link for both locals and tourists heading to Kinabalu Park and Kundasang, must be transformed into a dual-carriageway.
This is no longer a matter of convenience—it is a question of safety, economic vitality, and equitable development. A dual carriageway will significantly reduce the risk of head-on collisions, allow smoother overtaking, and accommodate the increasing number of logistics and passenger vehicles.
Particular attention must be paid to bottleneck areas, such as the narrow stretches near Kinabalu National Park, where congestion frequently spirals into gridlock during weekends and festive seasons. Strategic widening in such high-impact zones should be prioritised in the first phase of construction.
Improved Traffic Management Systems
Beyond physical infrastructure, smarter traffic solutions are essential. The deployment of intelligent traffic light systems that adapt to vehicle flow in real time could ease peak-hour congestion, particularly near towns, junctions, and school zones.
A network of CCTV cameras and sensors along critical segments will allow traffic authorities to monitor conditions and respond swiftly to incidents. Moreover, enforcement plays a crucial role. Stringent measures must be put in place to penalise illegal parking, reckless overtaking on single-lane stretches, and stopping along curves—all of which not only aggravate congestion but endanger lives.
Development of Alternative Routes
Diversifying traffic flow is an immediate priority. Accelerating the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway—especially the segment linking Kota Kinabalu to Ranau and Sandakan—offers a critical alternative that will relieve pressure on the existing trunk road. At the same time, the Kota Kinabalu-Tambunan-Ranau route, which winds through the Crocker Range, should be upgraded and better maintained to serve as a viable secondary path.
While more winding and less direct, it holds potential as a relief corridor during emergencies or peak traffic periods, especially when the main road is blocked due to landslides or vehicle breakdowns.
Preventive Measures and Public Awareness
While infrastructure and enforcement are vital, soft interventions are equally important. Coordinating staggered travel schedules during festive seasons—perhaps through road usage permits or incentives—can spread out traffic volume and avoid mass bottlenecks.
Equally, providing real-time traffic updates through mobile apps, electronic signage along highways, and social media alerts will empower road users to plan their journeys more intelligently. Education campaigns can also play a role in fostering road discipline and preparing communities for emergency detours and weather disruptions.
The government must abandon its reactive posture and embrace a long-term, systems-based approach. The people of Sabah, especially those who rely on the Tamparuli-Ranau route for work, education, tourism, and basic mobility, deserve better. The solutions are known and feasible. What is needed is political will, proper budgeting, and decisive action.
No More Excuses, Only Action—A Call for a Special Task Force on Sabah’s Transport Crisis
Sabahans have been patient for decades, but patience has now turned to justified frustration. The congested, unsafe, and outdated road infrastructure between Tamparuli and Ranau is not just an inconvenience—it is a systemic failure. Every festive season brings a repeat of traffic nightmares, wasted hours, and frayed tempers.
This is not a new problem. It is one that has persisted for more than 30 years while other states have surged ahead. In Penang, Selangor, and even Johor, dual carriageways, dynamic traffic systems, and reliable alternatives have long become part of daily life. Why should Sabah be treated differently?
This is no longer a technical challenge—it is a matter of political will, administrative urgency, and respect for the rights of Sabahans. The government must rise above bureaucratic inertia and prove its commitment to East Malaysia by delivering immediate, measurable improvements. Talk alone is not enough. Press statements and periodic site visits do not solve gridlock.
What Sabah urgently needs is a Special Task Force for Road Congestion and Transport Infrastructure, established under the Chief Minister’s Office and coordinated with federal ministries, especially the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Transport.
This task force should be mandated to:
- Conduct a 60-day transport audit of all key bottlenecks along the Tamparuli-Ranau corridor and related trunk routes.
- Design a three-phase infrastructure development plan with clear timelines, costings, and priority rankings.
- Coordinate federal funding and technical expertise under the Pan Borneo Highway framework to fast-track high-impact upgrades.
- Engage civil society and local communities to ensure the design of solutions are inclusive and sensitive to indigenous land rights and environmental needs.
- Table quarterly progress reports to the Sabah State Assembly and publish updates online to ensure public accountability.
This task force must not be another committee that drags its feet. It must have enforcement power, budgetary access, and direct reporting to the Chief Minister. The stakes are high—Sabah’s tourism reputation, rural economic connectivity, and public safety all depend on swift transformation.
Sabahans deserve to see cranes on the road, not excuses in the media. The next festive season must mark the beginning of a new chapter, where safe, smooth travel is no longer a luxury but a right.
The government must act decisively, deliver transparently, and prove once and for all that Sabah is not an afterthought in Malaysia’s development agenda. The time for action is not tomorrow, not after another tragedy, but today.
