Pan-Borneo Highway construction in Sabah behind schedule

Various work parcels of the Pan-Borneo Highway in Sabah are behind schedule, confirmed the Works Ministry in a written parliamentary reply.

Putatan MP Marcus Mojigoh had enquired in the Dewan Rakyat about the latest progress of the multi-billion ringgit project.

The ministry replied that as of June 2017, three of the five packages currently under construction in Sabah were behind schedule, while the other two were undergoing "pre-construction work".

There are 35 work packages in total.

“In the package from Donggongon to Papar (11.7km), current progress is 22.34 percent completed compared to the scheduled 35.11 percent.

“In the package from Tawau to Semporna (5km), current progress is 30.20 percent completed compared to the scheduled 39.67 percent.

“In the Lahad Datu Bypass package (7km), current progress is 7.23 percent completed compared to the scheduled 14.84 percent,” it said in a written parliamentary reply.

The two packages undergoing pre-construction work are from Sindumin and Kampung Melalia (28.4km), and from Kampung Lot M to Sandakan mile 32 (18km).

The above packages are all part of phase one of the project, which when completed in 2021, will stretch a total of 706 km. It is expected to cost RM12.86 billion.

Phase two will cover land from Tamparuli and Ranau, while phase three will be from Tawau to Kimanis. The exact length of the highways in the latter two phases remain under observation, the ministry said.

Mojigoh, who is United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) vice-president, had also asked about the types of “collateral damage” construction work would cause communities nearby.

The ministry replied that socioeconomic tests conducted as part of an ongoing environmental impact assessment on the highway had forecasted traffic disruption, relocation of residents, as well as air, sound and water pollution as a result of the project.

“However, appropriate measures have been drafted and will be rolled out throughout the construction period to reduce such impacts,” it said.

These measures include putting into place a traffic management plan, an environmental management plan, and planning the highway in a way that reduced the impact on nearby residents.

The Pan-Borneo Highway, promised by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as part of his 13th general election manifesto, has been touted the biggest and “most ambitious” infrastructure project to date in East Malaysia.

It will stretch across Sabah and Sarawak, but is being built separately in both states.

In Sabah, Borneo Highway PDP Sdn Bhd was appointed in April to deliver phase one of the highway.

The state government has promised that Sabahans will be exempted from toll fees when using it. - Mkini