KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government has finalised four packages of the RM7.4bil Phase Two Sabah-Sarawak Link Road (SSLR) and approved the expansion of two airports in both states under Budget 2025.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said for the SSLR, two packages have been awarded while two more are expected to be awarded by the end of this year.
For the airport extensions, a total of RM253mil is being allocated for Tawau Airport in Sabah and Miri Airport in Sarawak, he said.
These are among the allocations listed under Budget 2025 for the two Bornean states as Putrajaya works towards improving their infrastructure and economic development.
In his Budget speech in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday (Oct 18), Anwar mentioned that to date, a total of 17 packages with a RM9.7bil contract value have been issued letters of acceptance for Phase 1B of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Project.
This includes the Kota Belud-Kudat, Tawau-Kampung Lot M and Telupid-Ranau routes, he added.
As for Sarawak, its stretch of the Pan Borneo project is scheduled for completion at the end of November.
Overall, a total of RM25.1bil has been utilised for the overall Pan Borneo Highway project so far, Anwar said.
Earlier, he said the Federal Government was committed to honouring the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and that point should not be disputed.
“Sabah and Sarawak are given special attention. The development gap between both states must be addressed with basic infrastructure and facilities such as roads, electricity and clean water supply in place.
“Therefore, the development funds for Sabah and Sarawak continue to be given priority, with both states given the highest compared to other states at RM6.7bil and RM5.9bil respectively,” Anwar said.
Putrajaya is also planning to increase the special grant for Sabah and Sarawak to RM600mil next year, he said.
