KOTA KINABALU: The government will decide if the existing plan for the Pan Borneo Highway is to go through Tawai Forest Reserve to continue.
Deputy Chief Minister (III) Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said the decision would be to cut through the forest or use an alternative route for the stretch in central Sabah's Telupid district.
"The stretch is pending finalisation," the state Works Minister said when contacted Sunday (Oct 22).
He said the proposed alternative route would be more costly but would avoid the forest reserve.
"This is the decision we would need to consider and finalise," he said.
Conservationists have urged the government to use alternative routes for the Pan Borneo Highway in the Telupid stretch to avoid cutting through the Tawai Forest Reserve.
Since March 2020, Coalition Humans Habitats Highways (3H) has submitted their stand for alternative routes for the Telupid stretch of the Pan Borneo Highway.
They pointed out that the current alignment of the Telupid section of the Pan Borneo Highway would run through 30km of the Bornean elephant range, including their usual path through Tawai Forest Reserve.
They also raised concerns that building a highway through the Tawai Forest Reserve would increase the fire risk, smoke and haze in the forest. The last forest fire occurred in the area in 1983.
The 3H coalition said they have identified two alternative routes that could have socio-economic benefits without major environmental costs.
