Cost and design of Pan Borneo Highway being finalised

MoU is signed for the 1090 km highway expected to link all main cities in Sabah and Sarawak

PUTRAJAYA: The federal government is currently in the midst of finalising the cost and design of the Pan Borneo Highway, according to Works Minister Fadilah Yusof.

This was announced at the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the project between the Federal Government, Sarawak state government and Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd at Perdana Putra yesterday.

The MOU was signed by Works Ministry Chief Secretary Zohari Akob on behalf of the federal government, Sarawak state secretary Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani for the Sarawak government, and Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd chairman Abang Urai Hakim Abang Mohideen.

The MOU signing ceremony was also witnessed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem and Chief Secretary Ali Hamsa.

In a statement today, the Works Ministry said that the federal government has already decided on the specifics of the highway’s first phase of construction, which will see 773 km built beginning with the 33 km-long Telok Melano-Semantan package in September.

The package will involve the construction of a single carriageway linking the township and various surrounding villages in the Telok Melano area, which until now has only been accessible by sea.

According to the Works Ministry, the highway project will be implemented with Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd as the project delivery partner (PDP) managing and supervising its construction.

“The PDP will act as a single point of accountability that will be responsible for the implementation, management and completion of the 1090km highway at a reasonable cost and period of construction that will be set by the government,” said the ministry in their statement.

The PDP model currently being used for the Pan Borneo Highway project is similar to that used for the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) construction, in that the government will completely fund it via Dana Infra.

In a report by the Malay Mail Online, Adenan welcomed the project, saying that Sarawakians were grateful for the project.

“It will definitely open up the country, not just for communication, but also economic opportunities and activities and further advance the development (in the state),” he said, noting also that the highway will function for Sabah and Sarawak like how the North-South Expressway (PLUS) does for Peninsula Malaysia.

Announced in October last year, the Pan Borneo highway is targeted to link all the main cities in Sabah and Sarawak.