Sabah leg of Pan Borneo Project to start April

KUCHING: The Sabah Pan Borneo Project is expected to kick off in April, after the draft agreement was approved by the cabinet last week.

“The project will cost a ceiling price of no more than RM13 billion, not including the land cost,” Works Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof told reporters yesterday after officiating at a Chinese New Year gathering with the Taman Lee Ling Neighbourhood Watch.

The 35-package project involves the federal government, the state government and the project delivery partner Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd.

Meanwhile, the Pan Borneo Sarawak Project will be divided into 12 packages costing RM16 billion. Fadillah, who is also Petra Jaya MP, added that other projects about to kick off included the highway from Serian to Pantu this month and the 75km highway from Sibu to Bintulu next month.

A little closer to home is the construction of a four-lane road from the Emart Matang roundabout to Stapok, Batu Kawa and a bridge from Matang to Stapok.

“This will hopefully be another route to alleviate traffic.”

He added it was slightly behind schedule during the last inspection, but with the weather clearing up, he hoped the contractor would be able to make up for lost time.

On the Chinese New Year gathering with the Taman Lee Ling Neighbourhood Watch, Fadillah said unity was the root of everything, including creating a chain effect for a better economy.

“Without it, leaders will be spending time trying to unite the people instead of developing the country, especially in times of challenging economy.”

He also noted that Sarawakians had a knack to keep on celebrating everything well past their official dates, as evidenced by this postChinese New Year gathering.

“This is good. We should continue because everyone celebrates each others’ celebration. From there, I hope to see understanding, respect and love, and helping each other out, especially among the neighbours.”

Fadillah’s political secretary Fazruddin Abdul Rahman and Taman Lee Ling PBB sub-branch chairman Saet Amran were also present.