KINABATANGAN: Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today launched the Sabah Eastern Zone Pan Borneo Highway for the Sandakan-Kinabatangan-Beluran-Telupid alignment.
The prime minister said the project involves three packages namely package 28, 29 and 30 over 58km involving a cost of RM877 million.
He said the scope of the project involved works to upgrade the road from a single to dual carriageway, construction of three bridges, and a multi-level interchange.
“When completed, the route would provide comfortable, efficient and safe land access to residents,” he said when speaking at the project launch ceremony at Dataran Tamu Pekan, Kinabatangan here today.
Also present were Sabah and Sarawak affairs minister Maximus Ongkili, Sabah deputy chief minister Bung Moktar Radin, and deputy works minister Arthur Joseph Kurup.
Ismail said construction for the project started this month and it is scheduled to be fully completed in three years in October 2024.
He said the route would also facilitate logistics and marketing of agricultural produce in Telusid and help promote tourism around Sandakan.
“The implementation of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway proved the commitment of the federal government in developing a planned, systematic and efficient road infrastructure network for the people of Sabah.
“It is to ensure better socioeconomic development to benefit the people in this state in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan which carries the theme ‘Malaysian Family – A Prosperous, Inclusive and Sustainable Malaysia’,” he said.
On concerns of internet access problems in the rural areas in Sabah, Ismail said under the National Digital Network (Jendela) programme, the government has allocated RM3.5 billion to build 534 telecommunication towers in Sabah.
“The government has given its assurance that the Jendela project would be completed in two years.”
Meanwhile, the prime minister said there are 105 new projects costing RM1.9 billion for Sabah, including the upgrading of roads, and the provision of electricity supply and clean water.
“We have also approved the construction of a new multi-purpose hall in Kinabatangan costing RM6 million, as well as a RM3 million public market, and a waste disposal centre costing RM3 million,” he added.
Meanwhile, in the media conference after the ceremony, Ismail said the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is among the methods being studied to expedite the implementation of the Pan Borneo Highway.
“There are delays in the implementation (project) as the previous government cancelled the PDP (Project Delivery Partner) concept, therefore this time we must find a way to ensure the project is implemented fast. PFI is one of the ways being studied and discussed,” he said. - FMT
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