KOTA KINABALU: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has confirmed that the project delivery partner (PDP) model for the Pan Borneo Highway will be scrapped, saying the move was approved by the prime minister.
The DAP secretary-general told a town hall session in Sandakan today that nothing could be done about the contracts already awarded through the Works Department, although a plan is being drawn up to enable the 25 remaining contracts to be implemented by the Sabah government.
He said the move was consistent with Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) stand of returning state rights to Sabah.
“But this approach is new because the state government has never handled such a big project. But we try… if we don’t try, we won’t know.
“A framework is being drawn up to see how the state can decide on the remaining projects,” he said at an event to announce DAP’s Vivian Wong Shir Yee as PH’s candidate for the Sandakan by-election next month.
Vivian, 30, is the youngest child of Stephen Wong, the incumbent Sandakan MP who died on March 28.
Speaking to reporters later, Chief Minister Shafie Apdal welcomed the cancellation of the PDP model for the Pan Borneo project.
“Imagine funds of RM16 billion being handled by a political party. This is a project by the government so there has to be accountability.
“We also know that under the previous approach, the cost for a 1km road could reach up to between RM10 million and RM20 million. This should not happen,” he added.
Shafie also welcomed Vivian as the PH candidate in Sandakan.
“We will not take this by-election for granted and we have to work hard to ensure a win. We are confident the voters will pick a candidate suitable for Sandakan,” he said.
Vivian, who has a degree in public relations, worked as a financial consultant in Kuala Lumpur before being active with DAP in 2012.
She was also the special officer to her late father who was the Sabah health and well-being minister. - FMT
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