1. Road safety measures in Sabah require enhancement, according to state minister
2. Semporna tragedy highlights need for improved road safety in Sabah, states minister.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Sabah Vows to Enhance Road Safety Measures Following Tragic Accident

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is taking a serious stance on the recent accident that resulted in the tragic deaths of two foreign tourists in the state’s east coast Semporna district, according to Datuk Christina Liew.

The state’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister expressed deep concern over the incident that occurred on Monday (March 11), which claimed the lives of a Singaporean man and a Vietnamese woman. Liew emphasized the importance of addressing this issue promptly as it directly impacts Sabah’s tourism reputation.

Commitment to Road Safety

Liew has pledged to collaborate with relevant authorities to implement measures aimed at improving road safety and preventing similar accidents from happening in the future.

She stated, “I will engage in discussions with Sri Pelancongan Sabah chairman Ken Pan Ying On, who oversees tourism development in the Tawau and Semporna districts, to address the need for enhanced road safety measures, particularly on accident-prone stretches like Jalan Tawau – Semporna.”

Following the incident on Monday, where a tour van carrying foreign tourists collided with a trailer lorry at around 3.30 pm, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries, the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department confirmed the identities of the deceased as Lee Siong Huat, 60, from Singapore and Ngo Trinh Buu Dung, 40, from Vietnam.

Investigative Actions

Authorities revealed that the tragic incident took place at KM20 on Jalan Semporna-Tawau, with an 11-year-old girl from Singapore among the injured victims. Additionally, three men, including the 42-year-old tour van driver, sustained serious injuries.

Semporna police chief Supt Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah disclosed that the 29-year-old driver of the trailer lorry was apprehended to aid in the ongoing investigations. The case is currently under scrutiny under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, with potential penalties including imprisonment ranging from five to ten years and fines between RM20,000 and RM50,000.

Past Incidents

This unfortunate incident is not the first fatal accident involving foreign tourists on the same stretch of road. Last November, a 56-year-old tourist from China lost their life in a collision between a tour bus and a lorry along the Semporna-Tawau route. Fortunately, the 14 other passengers on the bus, all from China and aged between 30 and 60, escaped unharmed.

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1. Semporna fatal accident
2. Sabah road safety needs improvement.