Shahelmey: Sabah's remaining 20 Pan Borneo packages to take off by year end

KOTA KINABALU: The remaining 20 packages of the Pan Borneo Highway are set to take off by the end of this year, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.

He said the packages under phase one of the Sabah leg of the Pan Borneo would be implemented as the Budget 2023 had approved RM20bil for the Sabah and Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway.

"We expect the delayed 20 packages under phase one to be implemented this year," he said, adding that the Public Works Minister had said that once the project award is done, the contractor could be appointed.

He said the implementation of phase one involves 35 packages - contractors have already been appointed for 15 packages and the remaining 20 are waiting to be implemented.

"There was a delay in the implementation of the remaining 20 packages because initially the development of this highway was carried out through the Project Implementation Partner (PDP) but it was terminated in 2018-2019 during the change of government.

"When the PDP is terminated, the question of funding to complete the remaining projects arose," he told reporters at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration ceremony of the Pan Borneo Highway Section under the state Public Works Department on Tuesday (May 16).

"So, the 15 packages that are underway are funded through development allocations from the Federal Government amounting to RM1bil a year. It is not enough," he said.

He said the ongoing 15 packages were expected to be completed before the end of next year though they faced some delays especially in relocating utilities.

"Of the 15 packages, two packages have been completed," he added.