KOTA KINABALU, November 2025 — Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) has proposed a Kota Kinabalu Light Rail (KKLR) system to tackle urban congestion and modernise public transportation in the state capital. According to Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, the light rail is part of PH Sabah’s vision to develop a more livable and efficient city.

Phoong argues that the system would complement the existing public bus network including the upcoming pink-bus service and provide a reliable, convenient link between Kota Kinabalu International Airport and the city centre. This, he says, would benefit both locals and tourists.

Beyond transport improvements, PH frames the KKLR project as an economic lever: creating jobs for young people, stemming youth migration, and supporting sustainable tourism. The coalition plans to fund this and other infrastructure proposals through Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement under MA63, directing it toward critical public services and development.

However, challenges remain: Phoong has acknowledged difficult terrain in parts of Kota Kinabalu, including reclaimed land and potential sinkhole areas, which could complicate rail construction. As of the manifesto announcement, no public feasibility study or detailed financial blueprint for the light rail has been disclosed. Still, PH says the initiative is a long-term solution that could transform the city’s mobility and economic landscape.