Deputy Transport Minister Lajim Ukin came under fire in the House this morning when his parliamentary colleagues from his state of Sabah decided to grill him on the status of the state's railway network.

Lajim, who is also a Beufort MP, was accused by his fellow Sabah BN brethens of misleading the House when he said the federal government has given an allocation of RM230 million to upgrade train tracks in their state.

Several Sabah MPs, including outspoken Abdul Ghafur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan), rose up and protested, claiming that the upgrade works have yet to materialise as finished product.

"Kalabakan does not even have trains, but (overall) Sabah has the poorest train system in the country. We hope the allocation given is a reality, not just a lip-service...and when were these tracks upgraded? I don't even see it!," charged Abdul Ghafur in his supplementary question posed to Lajim.

Lajim however defended himself and his ministry by saying that the upgrades have been completed, though it was only between Tanjung Aru and Tenom.

His response failed to convince any of his Sabah colleagues, including the vocal Bung Mukhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan).

"But I do not see anything done there!" claimed Abdul Ghafur, who was also joined in by Bung and Dr Makin Makcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan) in rebuking Lajim.

"There is not even a ‘choo-choo' sound heard", said Bung Mokhtar.

Tracks done, but trains not in function yet

Abdul Ghafur further suggested that the cabinet set up an investigation committee to look into the matter and to this he received support from several opposition MPs.

However, Lajim clarified that 70 percent of the tracks upgrade have been completed in Tanjung Aru and Tenom.

Not only that, he added, the upgrade works also included constructing, repair works and upgrading train stations in Tanjung Aru, Putatan, Kimanis, Membakut, Beaufort, Rayu and Tenom.

"It has all been done but now we are waiting for the upgrade works to be completed in Beufort and Rayu as the tracks are located near a river and they are prone to landslides, that is all," said Lajim.

All the trains, he said, will be fully functioning as early as next year.

"That is why the trains are not functioning at the moment," he added.