KENINGAU, July 11, 2026 – Keningau MP Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Jeffrey G. Kitingan has urged the Transport Ministry to maintain operations at the Tambunan Road Transport Department (JPJ) office, to ensure that residents of the district continue to have access to essential government services.
The call was made in an official letter dated July 2, 2026, addressed to Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, in which he sought clarification on the office’s operational status following information regarding a proposed closure.
In the letter, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Jeffrey stated that despite claims that the Tambunan JPJ office is not operationally profitable, the office actually recorded revenue collection of RM1.04 million in 2024, which increased to RM1.10 million in 2025.
“Financial profit should not be the primary metric in deciding whether a government office should be retained or closed. Priority must be given to the government’s responsibility to provide efficient, accessible services that meet the needs of the people,” he stressed.
According to him, Tambunan district covers an area of approximately 1,347 square kilometres – almost the size of the state of Melaka, which spans 1,644 square kilometres. Meanwhile, the nearest JPJ office is located in Keningau, roughly 50 kilometres from Tambunan town, while Kota Kinabalu is about 80 kilometres away.
Mr Jeffrey argued that if the Tambunan JPJ office were to be closed, residents would have to bear higher travel costs and spend significantly more time handling matters related to driving licences, road tax, vehicle registration, and various other JPJ services.
He further explained that the distance from one end of Tambunan district to the other is around 75 to 80 kilometres, whereas the smaller state of Melaka has four JPJ offices – in Melaka, Jasin, Masjid Tanah and UTC Melaka. He contended that this clearly shows that geographic size and public accessibility must be properly taken into account when providing government services.
“The Road Transport Department is not an entity created solely to generate profits; on the contrary, it is a government agency that carries out statutory duties and provides public services to the people,” he asserted.
He also reminded that the residents of Tambunan consistently contribute to government revenue through road tax payments, driving licence fees, vehicle registration fees, and various JPJ service charges – totalling approximately RM1.10 million in 2025. As such, he said, the local community is entitled to accessible service facilities without having to bear the burden of longer journeys.
In light of this, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Jeffrey expressed his hope that the Transport Ministry and the Road Transport Department would reconsider any proposal to close the Tambunan JPJ office, and retain its operations in the interests of the people in the district.
He also conveyed his appreciation to the Transport Minister for his attention and consideration on the matter, and expressed the hope that any decision made would continue to prioritise the welfare of rural communities.
