‘Pan Borneo Highway tender done transparently’
KUCHING: The 1,089km Pan Borneo Highway project opens up many opportunities for companies and Sarawakians alike to participate in its construction, and all tender processes are being done according to standard procedures.
Works Ministry’s secretary general Datuk Seri Zohari Akob, in a statement, refuted a claim made by Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei that the Pan Borneo Highway project did not take into account the welfare of Sarawakians as the contracts were given to Umno cronies.
Wong made the allegation during the ‘Sarawak: The Key for Change’ dinner here on Saturday. The RM15 billion mammoth project is expected to be completed by 2023.
Zohari said the government always maintained a fair policy, and the Pan Borneo Highway project was being treated no differently.
“It will have the participation of a fully owned Sarawakian company and locals will get to work in the project.”
He added that the tender process was vetted by a special committee comprising technical officers and representatives from various state agencies. Its focus was to provide a safe and efficient highway for the people of Sarawak.
The project will be implemented through a project delivery partner similar to the MRT project in Peninsular Malaysia, and Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd will be the onestop accountability centre responsible to administer and ensure the project is completed within the cost and time frames.
“The project delivery partner will consist of experienced Sarawakians and will not be inf luenced by any political agenda.”