KUCHING: The Sarawak Infrastructure Development and Transportation Ministry is supporting the proposed Sabah-Sarawak Link, a federal project, as an alternative route for the phase two of the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway.
Its minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing said the ministry recently received a letter dated Nov 1, 2018 from the Works Ministry to consider the proposed project and would submit the proposal to the State Planning Authority for further deliberation.
“While recognising the importance of this project for the rakyat, the political differences between the federal and state governments must be put aside.
“Both governments must honour their responsibilities and use their combined strengths in fulfilling the needs of the rakyat,” he said when winding up his ministry’s debate on the Supply Bill 2019 here yesterday.
The proposed route consists of a main road of 316 km traversing along Sungai Arang/Marudi/Long Lang/Long Seridan/Long Lopeng/Lawas and four spur roads with a total length of 251 km.
Masing said with the full support on funding from the federal government, the people would soon enjoy smooth accessibility from the completion of the basic infrastructure such as roads in their areas.
On the Sarawak Pan Borneo project, which began construction in late 2015, he said the 786-km road from Telok Melano to Miri was targeted for completion in 2012.
As reported by the project delivery partner (PDP) Lebuhraya Borneo Utara (LBU), it had currently achieved 33 per cent physical progress at the end of September this year, he said.
‘’Meanwhile, despite certain work packages that are seeing some challenges due to unfavourable weather conditions, utilities relocation works, constrains on manpower and machinery as well as a few land issues that remain unresolved, the overall progress of the Pan Borneo is still on track,” he said.
He said the Pakatan Harapan government through the ministry’s discussion with Works Minister Baru Bian recently had also reacted positively to the construction of the Batang Lupar Bridge on a 50-50 basis, a win-win situation for both the state and federal governments. – Bernama
