KOTA KINABALU: The state government has ordered train services between Kinarut and Kota Kinabalu to stop immediately until inspection works on barricades along the track section is completed.
For now, train services for the Beaufort – KK route is only up to Kinarut train station, and services to Tanjung Aru station here will be temporarily halted.
State Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony said they were waiting for a full report regarding the accident at the railway track near the Petagas monument in Putatan here.
“At the same time, we have taken a drastic approach and ordered Sabah Railways Department to inspect all barricades which are not functioning along the tracks.
“So for now, we will stop the train services coming into the state capital from operating as we are still investigating,” he told reporters after a courtesy call to Youth and Sports Minister Frankie Poon Ming Fun in his office here today.
Peter said they were also in the midst of planning the state railway system upgrade by building new railway routes that were not along the path of motorists.
“We hope to provide a new track that does not go through roads especially at the state capital.
“If we have this other alternative, we might not need barriers as no cars will be passing through,” he added.
During the 1.05pm incident yesterday, a man died while another was severely injured after the Proton Preve they were in was dragged by the locomotive for 200 metres on the tracks.
Victim Daniel Shafwan Omar, 22, was pronounced dead at 4.30 pm while Mohd Amir Khairi Abdul Ghani, 20, is in critical condition and receiving treatment in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).