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LABUAN (June 11): The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Malaysia (CILTM) Sabah Section has called for the establishment of a Ministry of Transport in Sabah, emphasising the critical role of logistics and transport in driving economic growth and social inclusion.
Speaking at a seminar on ‘Transport Planning for a Better Tomorrow’ at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) on Tuesday, CILTM Sabah chairman Daniel Doughty said that while the state’s logistics and transport infrastructure is vital to daily life and the economy, it suffers from fragmentation, underinvestment, and short-term planning.
Citing a World Bank study, he highlighted that transport costs in Sabah are 30 to 50 per cent higher than in Peninsular Malaysia, with public transport penetration in urban areas such as Kota Kinabalu at just 15 per cent, compared to 45 per cent in Kuala Lumpur.
Doughty pointed to the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway as a case in point, with Phase 1A having progressed to 82 per cent completion, but Phase 1B lags at only 3.7 per cent, while Phases Two and Three remain far from satisfactory.
“These numbers are not just figures; they are symptoms of systemic gaps in planning and coordination.
“The current planning in Sabah is often reactive…we have seen it too many times. Only when roads are clogged, only when commuters complain, only when freight is delayed or major supply chain issues arise, then we start forming committees and scramble to respond,” he said in his text presentation shared with Bernama today.
Hence, Doughty urged a shift to anticipatory, data-driven planning that engages all stakeholders and prioritises long-term development.
Reflecting on past efforts, he recalled that during a webinar in March 2023, CILTM Sabah advocated for the formation of the Sabah Logistics Council (SLC) to the Sabah Works Ministry through its permanent secretary.
“The council was established in June 2024 and has since brought together players from ports, local councils, freight operators, academia, and government agencies to address critical challenges in the logistics and transport sector.
“Despite this progress, more needs to be done…just next door, Sarawak has established a Ministry of Transport. Why does this matter? Because logistics and transport are too vital to be a side portfolio,” he said.
Doughty proposed that, if established, the Sabah Ministry of Transport would allow for funding channels, cross-sector integration, and ministerial-level accountability.
“The ministry could also spearhead the creation of a Sabah Logistics and Transport Masterplan that would outline short, medium, and long-term priorities, incorporate rural logistics development, address decarbonisation and smart mobility, and map transport corridors with a 50-year perspective.
He said resilience planning should be a key component, considering the threats of floods, landslides, and supply chain disruptions.
He also highlighted the potential of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain to transform the sector.
“Imagine AI systems optimising bus schedules in real-time, or blockchain platforms securing cross-border documentation.
“Notably, the Labuan Transhipment Blockchain Protocol has proven to be a successful initiative, serving as the foundation for a growing ecosystem developed by Tijarah Holding Ltd that has since attracted strategic alliances, most notably with Tesla Asset Management Holdings.
“Infrastructure may be built with concrete and steel, but transport systems are powered by collaboration and political will,” Doughty said, urging participants to demand better planning, support governance reforms, and stay engaged as stakeholders.
“Let us transform Sabah’s transport landscape not through complaints, but through coordinated, sustained action. Let us build a Sabah that moves better, faster, and stronger together,” he added. – Bernama
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