With the new government having announced it was dropping the KL-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) and MRT3 projects, speculation on which mega-infrastructure projects could next come under review has begun. One of these is the Sabah portion of the Pan Borneo Highway, The Star reports.
Sources said that the next item on the radar could be the Sabah portion of the project, which will cost the federal government an estimated RM12.8 billion for 1,236 km-long segment of road that will run across the state.
Work on the 2,325 km-long highway across Sarawak and Sabah, of which the first phase is due for completion in 2021, is currently ongoing, but most of the present construction is happening in Sarawak, with work on the 11 packages awarded under the first phase of the highway already underway.
“The bulk of the work in Sabah has not been carried out yet, which makes it easy to defer the project. In Sarawak, work on the ground in phase two between Miri and the border of Sabah has not been carried out yet,” a source told the publication.
It was reported that the first seven packages planned for the Sabah portion, worth RM3.2 billion, had been awarded, with construction work for five having begun, but sources revealed that these were facing “huge cost overruns” and the previous federal government was already having problems justifying the cost.
Officials in both states are hoping that the federal government will continue with the Pan Borneo Highway project. Last week, Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said he was confident the project would go on, while Sarawak Pakatan chairman Chong Chieng Jen stated after GE14 that the project would continue, but with auditing carried out on the cost of the project as well as on the contractors involved.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
It’s ok. Later when we have enough money we’ll build a highway till Mindanao. So whoever got abducted can find their own way home
So happy that the Government I voted is so prudent and it cares for our future generations.
Now, priority is to reduce the 1 Trillion debt left to us by the highly corrupted previous Government.
Sabah portion of Pan Borneo Highway must continue, even for Sarawak as well!!! How long Federal government want to ignore the welfare of East Malaysia?! East Malaysia had been long long been ignored by Federal Government for 55 years, continue to ignore!!!
Not when previous govt use this as an excuse to siphon out money. Let them audit first.
Didn’t you read above? The cost overruns are already huge.
Pls drop it, PH menisfesto is making malaysia goes into recession
The free Pan Borneo Highway? No need to scrap it.It is what the Sabahan and Sarawakian deserved since 1963’s most of the ‘hasil’ has been gone to KL.
Since 1963 you guys voted BN. If you voted them out earlier, we would have so much money to get it done earlier.
We ain’t looking at the past. We’re looking for the future. Every state needs a growing economy. A highway would help provide that economic growth here. I’m from semenanjung but have been living here for the past 2 years. Sabah needs this highway badly. There is no railway system here unlike in semenanjung.
Then it’s their own fault for voting BN all these years, who wasted so much money until none left for the highway.
Imagine that… So Sabahans will have to continue enduring shoddily built, poorly maintained roads, just because of ‘cost overruns’and high project costs.?! Seriously… If they had awarded the packages to capable contractors, instead of political cronies, the project would be viable… But alas… It is but only a pipe dream… IMHO the current government should put aside political vengeance and continue with projects that are beneficial to the rakyat… Not just pulling wool over the rakyat….absolutely disgusting..
Yg tinggal hanya warisan…..
Lols! Tapi warisan pun diorang punya.
I just wish that BN is still in power. Pan Borneo highway is needed to bridge across Sabah and Sarawak (economically, socially, geographically).
It can be a good module and formula for a toll free highway that can be picked up in Peninsular Malaysia as well. So sad…
unfortunately, half of voters think otherwise.. so, embrace ourselves for the next 5 years.. hopefully for the better!
I’m sure they will later. Now all the money already stolen. Used to buy expensive apartments, make movies, handbags and superyacht.
Read above – “already huge cost overruns”.
What’s the use of a highway if no money for anything else. Let them audit and take out all the corrupt contractors first.
Haha. BN macai now jobless and still wish that BN is in power. If no 1MDB, your higjway would be all ready now. Go sulk to your mama Rosmah
Rule of law: very mature and educated reaponse.
There was never 1MDB during a certain 22 year period. So why still no highway then, hmm?
How come only 1MDB ada, then finally got highway?
Bcoz 1MDB enrich the poor?
mahathir will continue to ignore east malaysia.. Good job old man!
You support to continue ignore East Malaysia,after siphoning the oil & gas from the 2 equal partners.
What kind of Malaysian are you ? Then dont collect taxes from the 2 nations and give back thier autonomous status.
Chill bro.. he’s trying to be sarcastic
Sarcastic jibe lah. Becoz he din outright win it so now they must suffer his wrath.
Mahathir is kedekut! You can win GE14 coz of DAP & PKR! Not Bersatu old man!
It’s a democracy. The people of East Malaysia have chosen. Sabah has chosen a new state government.. Sabahans and Sarawakians combined help to sweep a new government into power. You guys knew that there will be risks, there will not be a continuation of past policies and projects. This is a consequence that you guys would have been prepared for.
One of the stupidest, if not the stupidest, donkeys
This isn’t even tyranny of the majority as they only got 47%. Its a tyranny of the loud minority. And Sabahans now need to pay dearly for their brief resistance.
New Bollywood movie incoming: Wrath of Tun. Main star Musa Aman shouting, “TUUUUUNNNNNN!!!!!”
Loser BN cybertrooper
Sarawak is going on because cms (chief minister Sarawak) taib is the main contractor? Seriously, East Malaysia are much better off on their own, they’ll be richer with their oil wealth, fertile soils and care about their own people, not the 20 million peninsular mosquitos. From a kl dude