Telipok-Kiulu-Ranau road to bring development, economic spill over

KIULU: The construction of Jalan Telipok-Kiulu-Ranau, which will be the second route connecting the state capital and tourism spot Ranau, is expected to benefit the people, especially rural folks.

The 80-kilometre road, starting from Telipok to Kampung Rondogung, Ranau will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at a ceremony in Kampung Pukak here this Thursday.

Besides providing an alternative route for motorists to the existing Tamparuli-Ranau road, it will also solve the connectivity issue of the villagers there.

Kiulu’s Kampung Poturidong Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman, Ariqieclye Juara, 43, said it will also enhance Kiulu’s attraction as a rural tourism spot.

“The new road will ease accessibility to many villages which faced road connectivity issue previously, so we are happy.

“Going through Kiulu town, the construction of the new route will turn the town as a pit stop for tourists, generating income for the locals,” he said.

It is also in line with the recent announcement by Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman of Kiulu being upgraded into a sub-district in Tuaran.

Costing RM300 million through an allocation from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, the project commenced on October 2016 and scheduled for completion on March 31, next year.

The new road is seen as a more practical option than expanding the current link road since it passes through a hilly location considered sensitive, in particular the Kundasang area where natural disasters like earthquakes have occurred.

It will ensure a secondary option to connect the west coast and east coast of the state, if there are damages along the existing route.

It will also serve about 3,000 Telipok folks facing issues with accessibility for 50 years.

Telipok’s Kampung Tampulan JKKK chairman Sipun Munsin, 61, said the road upgrade was something they have been applying for from the government to ease villagers’ movement when ferrying out agriculture produce.

A villager, Salina Moroli, 61, said the execution of the project showed the government is concerned with the people’s difficulties following lack of proper road link.

“We finally have what we wished for,” she said, adding that the lack of infrastructure had made life very difficult especially when the villagers were in dire need of medical attention.