Bian: Pan-Borneo Highway project to continue
KUCHING: The main contractors and sub-contractors appointed for phase one of the Pan-Borneo Highway project are reminded to carry on with the project without breaching contract terms.
Works Minister Baru Bian said the project would be continued.
He said, however, the ministry would take action if any company was found to have breached the terms of contract.
“As for phase two, we will review the procedures to determine if there is any aspect that can be improved to expedite the project.”
Sarawak’s portion of the highway comprises 11 work packages. The project kicked off in September 2016 and is scheduled to be completed by June 2021.
Bian, who is Selangau member of parliament, said he would focus on rehabilitating dilapidated schools and building more hospitals.
“I come from Sarawak and I know the rural areas well.
“I know the challenges faced by the villagers, especially in seeking medical treatment and providing education for their children.”
He said he would review the industrialised building system used to rebuild schools in the state.
He said although the system was a faster way to build a school and worked well in the peninsula, it had faced some issues when it was implemented in the state.
The issues, he said, were related to transport costs and bringing concrete components into remote areas.
A total of 116 dilapidated schools have been identified in Sarawak.
Of these, 50 come under the purview of the Public Works Department and 66 under the Education Ministry.