Kota Kinabalu: 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.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Doughty highlighted, citing a World Bank study, 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. He 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.
Doughty stated that these numbers are not just figures; they are symptoms of systemic gaps in planning and coordination. The current planning in Sabah is often reactive, as roads are only addressed when they are clogged, commuters complain, or major supply chain issues arise. He 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, Doughty argued that more needs to be done. He cited Sarawak's establishment of a Ministry of Transport as an example of why it matters, suggesting that logistics and transport are too vital to be a side portfolio. He proposed that, if established, the Sabah Ministry of Transport would allow for funding channels, cross-sector integration, and ministerial-level accountability.
Doughty suggested that the ministry could 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. 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.
He noted that 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. Doughty urged participants to demand better planning, support governance reforms, and stay engaged as stakeholders.
Doughty concluded by encouraging the transformation of Sabah's transport landscape through coordinated, sustained action, not through complaints. He called for building a Sabah that moves better, faster, and stronger together.