I will fight for Pan Borneo Highway — Works Minister
KUCHING: Works Minister Baru Bian wants to erase any doubt about the Pan Borneo Highway project as he again stressed that the project shall continue.
“A far as I am concerned and I have said it before, I would like to see that the Pan Borneo Highway be pursued and completed because it is the only highway in Sarawak and Sabah,” he told reporters yesterday during a visit to Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) complex at Jalan Sultan Tengah, Petra Jaya, here.
He pointed out that he would continue to fight for the project to be pursued and completed.
“If someone else want to stop or cancel it (Pan Borneo Highway), I will fight (for the project to continue) because
I really feel the the project should be done,” he asserted.
However, he pointed out that there was still a possiblity to talk and discuss on how to reduce the cost of the project.
On another matter, Baru said the federal government was still prepared to assist the state government to pay the allowance of community leaders and village chiefs in the state, saying that RM35 million has been allocated for next year.
However, he pointed out that the community leaders and village heads must be elected by the villagers and not being appointed just because they are friendly to the government of the day.
“We (federal government) are prepared to assist the state government in this matter ... however, we made a caveat that we will only assist to pay the allowance to those who have been properly elected by the kampung people,” he said, adding that those in such position must have the support of the villagers.
Baru also said that the state government memo for community leaders and village chiefs to only attend functions organised by state government was a hindrance for these leaders.
“As community leaders and