By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Aug 15: Both the Federal and the State governments are committed to ensure that the Pan Borneo Highway project (LPB) is completed by September 2022, says Senior Works Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof.
“We all committed to make sure that this project is completed on that target date,” he said at a media conference here today.
When asked on the country’s current political scenario and the possibility of a transition of power which might put some of the government’s mega projects, including the Pan Borneo Highway, on hold, he hoped the crisis would not escalate further.
“I do not want to comment further on this matter (political crisis) because I’m here on a working basis but if there is a change of the government, it will surely affect this project (Pan Borneo Highway ). Previously, the Pan Borneo Highway had been extended when a new government took over in 2018 and, at the end of the day, the rakyat are the ones who are suffering,” he pointed out.
Fadillah, currently in Miri for a two -day working visit since Saturday, was previously in Bintulu to inspect the progress of the construction work of LPB’s Work Package Contract (WPC) 10 (Mile 5 to Sungai Tangap).
At the media conference, Fadillah also disclosed that for the first phase of the Sarawak Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project, from Lawas to Long Lopeng, the tender for the construction has been awarded which involved an estimated cost totalling RM1.1 billion.
“Phase two of the SSLR, which connects Long Lopeng to Miri will be carry out by various agencies including Score (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy) and the Ministry of Rural Development. We will do the bidding to the Federal government,” he said.
Also present during the media conference were Minister of Transport Sarawak Datuk Lee Kim Shin; Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau. — DayakDaily
