Project progressing well

KOTA KINABALU: Construction work on the highly anticipated but long overdue Pan Borneo Highway appears to be progressing smoothly so far since the project started with five work packages, with now only 30 left to go.

State Public Works Department (JKR) director Datuk Amrullah Kamal said that the five work packages had started right on time, as expected. However, he did indicate that the work package through Papar district had been experiencing some delay.

“Papar will be one of the work packages that will have two lanes. One of it is the existing lane, which will be further repaired while the other lane will be located just at the other side of the existing lane,” Amrullah said.

He disclosed that there are currently a number of houses located on the proposed project site and his department had informed all the concerned house owners and landowners within the area.

Amrullah explained that the progress of the project will also depend on the level of cooperation given by the said landowners, in which he mentioned that due compensation will be given to ease their burden.

He said the landowners will be given ample time to move out to their new houses.

Commenting further on the State Lands and Surveys Department’s ongoing discussion with the respective landowners, its director, Datuk Safar Untong, said that all the land titles involved in the Pan Borneo project will be acquired in compliance with Section 3 of the Land Acquisition Ordinance.

“As a norm, we will evaluate all the buildings and lands involved and we will compensate its owners accordingly based on the current market price. We would expect that some of these owners would plead for their lands not be taken away from them. If any sort of applications or request are made, we will deal with it accordingly. This kind of issue is just one of the causes that will delay the Pan Borneo Highway project,” Safar said.

As for normal land titles that do have buildings on them, it is less likely that problems may be encountered, as the contractors will be given free entry to conduct their work.

“Thankfully, construction work for this project had been progressing smoothly thus far. However, it is normal that projects of this nature may encounter some difficulties,” said Amrullah.

He cited the issue of land ownership as one the difficulties that may contribute to the delay of this project. Thus he urged all private landowners to give their full cooperation.

Amrullah also disclosed that Borneo Highway PDP (BHP) Sdn Bhd, specifically its CEO cum managing director, Shahelmy Yahya and his team, have been working tirelessly to ensure the timely completion of the project.

The five work packages consist of three early commencement packages, namely, Work Package 5: Papar-Donggongon; Work Package 15: Tawau-Semporna; and Work Package 21: Lahad Datu Bypass.

Last March, the appointment letters for the contract works had been distributed to two projects called the initial kickoff project, namely, Work Package 1 and Work Package 27.

Amrullah and Safar spoke to the media during a press conference at BHP’s breaking of fast event, which was held at The Pacific Sutera on Tuesday.