KUALA LUMPUR: Sipitang Member of Parliament, Datuk Matbali Musah, urged the government to step up enforcement measures along the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah to improve road safety and reduce traffic accidents.
He recommended a combination of closed-circuit television (CCTV) installations, routine patrols, and continuous public education on road safety practices.
Speaking during the debate on the Road Transport Act 1987 (Amendment) Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat today, Matbali warned that the full completion of the Sabah stretch of the highway is likely to lead to a sharp increase in traffic volume, raising the risk of speeding and other dangerous driving behaviors.
Matbali, who also serves as Chairman of the Malaysian Cocoa Board (LKM), stressed the importance of tighter vehicle inspections at Malaysia’s border entry points.
He highlighted Sipitang’s geographical significance as a gateway linking Sabah with neighboring regions, noting that checkpoints such as Sindumin in Sipitang and Merapok in Lawas are seeing growing cross-border traffic.
With increasing vehicle movement from Brunei Darussalam and anticipated flows from Kalimantan, Indonesia, he said enforcement systems must be better coordinated.
“All road users, no matter their nationality, must follow Malaysian regulations,” he emphasized, underscoring that adherence to safety rules and legal requirements is non-negotiable.
He called for stricter checks at border crossings on documentation, permits, insurance coverage, driver’s licenses, and vehicle roadworthiness to safeguard local motorists.
On the proposed amendments to the Road Transport Act, Matbali expressed support, stating they are particularly pertinent and beneficial to Sabah and Sarawak.
