PUTATAN: Sabah police have identified 30 locations in 20 districts as ‘black areas’ which will be given attention during its Ops Selamat V which will be held in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration this year.
According to the state police’s Public Order and Traffic Department chief Supt Ismadi Borhan, the districts are Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Tuaran, Papar, Beaufort, Sipitang, Tenom, Wilayah Labuan FT, Tuaran, Kota Belud, Ranau, Kota Marudu, Kudat, Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Beluran.
In Kudat the area identified is KM1-KM50, Jalan Kudat/Kota Kinabalu; Kota Marudu KM1-KM7, Jalan Kota Marudu-Pitas; Ranau, KM3-KM12, Jalan Ranau-Tamparuli; Tuaran, KM1-KM44, Jalan Tuaran-Kota Belud; Papar, KM11-KM31 Jalan Papar-Beaufort; Kota Kinabalu, KM1-KM25 , Jalan Tuaran Bypass, KM1-KM20, Jalan Kepayan and KM2-KM22, Jalan Lintas; Keningau KM1-KM12, Jalan Apin-Apin and KM1-KM20, Jalan Keningau-Sook; Tenom, KM2-KM16, Jalan Tenom-Keningau; Beaufort, KM1-KM21, Jalan Beaufort-Papar and KM1-KM31, Jalan Beaufort-Sipitang.
Sipitang, KM1-KM9, Jalan Sipitang-Sindumin; Sandakan KM48-KM64, Jalan Sandakan-Beluran; Beluran, KM1-KM27, Jalan Telupid-Ranau and KM40-KM90, Jalan Beluran-Telupid; Kinabatangan, KM58-KM78, Jalan Sandakan-Lahad Datu and KM121-KM141, Jalan Sandakan-Lahad Datu; Lahad Datu, KM10-KM32, Jalan Lahad Datu-Tawau and KM10-KM24, Jalan Lahad Datu-Kinabatangan; Tawau KM4-KM50, Jalan Tawau-Semporna and KM30-KM40, Jalan Tawau-Kalabakan; Semporna KM19-KM38, Jalan Semporna-Tawaul; Labuan KM1-5, Jalan Patau-Patau and KM2-6, Jalan Ranca-Ranca; Kota Belud, KM7-11, Jalan Kota Belud-Kudat and Penampang KM8-20 Jalan Kota Kinabalu-Papar.
He said that the objective of Ops Selamat V was to ensure a smooth flow of traffic in the identified areas as well as to reduce the incidents of fatal road accidents and housebreaking cases.
“Other than focusing on reducing the number of accidents, Ops Selamat will also focus on sea patrol, prevention of crime at sea and patrolling in housing estates where many of its occupants have gone back to their hometown for the Hari Raya celebration.
“During the course of the operation we will also introduce the Rest and Recreation areas (R&R) in the identified black areas for road users to utilize. They will be served refreshments like coffee and we will make sure that they are well rested before they proceed with their journey to their respective destinations,” Ismadi said.
He said this when met after presenting raya goodies to road users along Jalan Putatan yesterday.
Ismadi also disclosed that since its implementation on July 21, a total of eight fatal accidents have been recorded statewide compared to only four during the same period in Ops Selamat IV last year.
“However, based on initial statistics, the increase in the number of fatal accidents recorded in the state can be attributed to the increase in the number of vehicles on the road,” he said.
Ops Selamat V will involve 312 officers and personnel from all the traffice police branches throughout Sabah and will end on August 4.
Also present yesterday were Officer in Charge of State Traffic DSP Mohd Zaidi Abdullah and Penampang District Police Chief DSP Ratan Kumar Singh.
