Government plans to revive mega road project bypassing Brunei

This mountain settlement of the Bakelalan highlands in interior northern Sarawak may be connected to the outside world via a major road project proposed by Works Minister Baru Bian. -Photo by Stephen Then

MIRI: The Federal Government is looking into a plan to revive a mega road project linking Miri to Limbang and Lawas, and the rural northern frontiers, without passing through Brunei.

Works Minister Baru Bian said his ministry will look into the project financing, adding that the move will open up vast economic and tourism potentials for northern Sarawak.

"At present, road travellers from Miri planning to visit Limbang, Lawas and the Bakelalan highlands have to pass through Brunei.

"They face a lot of immigration procedures and Customs requirements at the various checkpoints," he said at a press conference here Sunday (Aug 5).

The current checkpoint between Miri and Brunei is at the Sungai Tujuh point while the Brunei-Limbang checkpoint is at Sungai Pandaruan.

These two checkpoints serve the existing Pan Borneo trunk road leading from Miri into Brunei and Limbang.

This issue of a direct land route from Miri to Limbang - bypassing Brunei - has been discussed by the state and Federal governments since the 1980s.