Who delayed Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah, asks Anwar

The prime minister questions the years of delay under a previous administration, as he contrasts Sarawak’s near-complete stretch with Sabah’s stalled progress.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during a town hall session with Sabahan youths at the International Technology and Commercial Centre in Penampang. (Bernama pic)

PENAMPANG:

 Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim took a veiled jab today at a past administration over the long-standing delays in Sabah’s portion of the Pan Borneo Highway, contrasting the stalled progress in the state with Sarawak’s near-complete stretch.

Speaking at a town hall with Sabah youths here, Anwar said the contrast was hard to ignore.

“Sarawak’s portion of the highway is almost complete. Sabah’s is not. Who delayed the progress?” he said at the Temu Anwar Harapan Urang Muda Sabah event at the International Technology and Commercial Centre.

The Pan Borneo Highway spans more than 2,000km in total, including about 1,060km in Sarawak, about 706km in Sabah, and the remainder in Brunei.

In Sarawak, all packages for the highway project were reported to be 99% complete as of July, with full completion expected in 2026. But in Sabah, progress lags, with Phase 1A packages mostly done and Phase 1B only 3% underway.

While Anwar did not name any administration, Beaufort Umno chief Awang Aslee Lakat said last month the project could once again become a political casualty if Warisan were to return to power in Sabah.

According to Awang, the Warisan-led government’s 2019 decision to terminate the project delivery partner’s contract for the state’s portion delayed progress and burdened the people.

Shafie Apdal, then chief minister, reportedly said the termination followed discussions with Putrajaya because of the high costs, and aimed to ensure state involvement and transparency.

Anwar also acknowledged public frustration over water supply problems, saying the matter was being tackled and should be resolved within the next two years.

“God willing, the water woes will be resolved next year,” he said, referring to Sabah’s long-standing water shortages.

Separately, Anwar stressed Putrajaya’s commitment to resolving Sabah’s outstanding rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), starting with the 40% revenue entitlement.

He said federal–state technical discussions will begin on Monday, led by Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican and Sabah state secretary Safar Untong.

On Oct 17, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that the federal government had acted unlawfully and beyond its constitutional powers in failing to fulfil Sabah’s rights to 40% of federal revenue for the years 1974 to 2021.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers announced on Tuesday the federal government would not appeal the court’s decision affirming Sabah’s 40% entitlement to federal revenue derived from the state, as provided for in the Federal Constitution.

However, the AGC said the government intended to challenge other “defects” in the grounds of judgment. - FMT