BLINK and Serian is already there.
The Pan Borneo Highway (PBH) has that kind of quality. The very one that makes distance feel almost apologetic, as if it has forgotten to take its time. Doze off somewhere past Kuching and wake to find the road has done all its work without asking. A nap, a half-finished thought, an album whose playlist has yet to finish playing all its songs on the journey from Kuching to Serian.
The tarmac runs smoothly—from city sights to the green blur of the Sarawakian landscape pressing softly against either side. The destination already there on the horizon, as if it has simply been waiting, and not for long.
Distance has not disappeared, exactly. It has only been made gentle. Old lorries and polished cars fall into that easy pace. Nobody fights the journey anymore, driving instead to their own rhythm without the need to chase daylight just to arrive somewhere.
Even Lundu, which once required some deliberation, now fits easily into an afternoon. A simple day trip that once demanded planning now asks for nothing more than the willingness to go.
There is something comforting about the convenience of it all; the way a journey, once braced for becomes something you forget to brace for at all.
The highway that redefined distance
Nobody could have imagined how life would transform. Even a decade ago, the scale of what the PBH would become seemed almost inconceivable.
Yet here it stands today, a ribbon of tarmac relieving journeys that once took long, tedious hours.
The idea itself was not new. Construction of the PBH was first mooted around the time of Malaysia’s formation in 1963, formulated as a bold vision to bridge distances and elevate communities across East Malaysia. In Sarawak, that vision had steadily evolved into the State’s main arterial lifeline, linking major towns and cities while extending its reach through feeder roads.
Spanning 786 kilometres, Phase 1 of the PBH Sarawak begins at Telok Melano, the southernmost tip of the State, and stretches northward to Miri; a modern dual carriageway that carries not only vehicles, but also aspirations.
Beyond asphalt and concrete, the highway functions as a catalyst for mobility, commerce and socio-economic progress; widening access to markets, education, healthcare and employment opportunities.
For generations, communities across Sarawak knew only of the single-laned routes that snaked through unforgiving terrain. The notion that one day a modern highway would connect towns seemed like pure fantasy. The challenges were immense, the geography daunting, and the logistics complex.
Yet what once seemed farfetched now defines daily life. The PBH is more than a mere road. It connects, brings people together, and ushers development into settlements once considered remote.
Hours reclaimed, lives transformed
Journey times that once stretched into gruelling hours are now significantly shortened.
Ali Bujang, longhouse chief of Rumah Panjang Barit Sebubu Baru in Saratok, experienced this firsthand, especially during festivities when families gather without dreading the trip.
“Previously, (travelling) from here (Saratok) to Miri took about eight hours. Now, the journey takes about six hours. Whereas to Kuching, previously it took about five hours, now it takes about three (hours),” Ali said when met with DayakDaily.
With the road widened, Ali said that traffic congestion has been reduced compared to the previous single-laned roads.
Aruan Salleh, a wet market vendor from Sarikei who travels regularly between Sarikei and Kuching, shared the same sentiment.
“The road is good, from one end to the other. Before PBH, heading to Kuching was something we’d put off in fear that vehicles would break down,” Aruan recalled.
The difference wasn’t only measured in minutes saved. It was also felt in daily life. Travellers from Kanowit now stop in Sarikei for supplies, a small but telling shift in economic patterns. Schools and hospitals that once seemed worlds away are now within comfortable reach.
Bonita Andrew, village head of Kampung Quop, has witnessed this shift among those seeking education or medical treatment in Kuching.
“Compared to last time, reaching somewhere will take a longer time because the road only has single lanes and wasn’t smooth in certain parts. Unlike now, those from Sri Aman who want to come to Kuching. It’s faster,” Bonita explained.
Kapitan Tay Siaw Chuan from Sri Aman sees the improvement as profound, especially for students travelling to Kuching: a journey that now takes just two and a half hours.
“They (students) can travel directly and leave their cars in Kuching before heading to the airport. Last time, they’d have to stay overnight somewhere,” Tay said.
With the PBH expanding connectivity, even celebrations unique to Sri Aman—such as the Benak Festival, now draw bigger crowds from across the State, bringing with them broader economic benefits.
Peace of mind on every journey
Perhaps nothing speaks more powerfully to the highway’s impact than the peace of mind it has brought to families. Parents who once forbade their children from travelling certain routes now watch them depart with far less anxiety.
For parents like Aruan, he harbours no fear in allowing his children to travel across Sarawak.
“Now, we’re not afraid to allow our children to drive. Last time, we’d worry. It’s safer now,” Aruan said.
The multi-lane configuration, improved lighting, and better road conditions have fundamentally altered safety perceptions.
Where families once departed in pre-dawn darkness to ensure daylight arrival, they can now leave at reasonable times, confident in both the journey and the infrastructure that supports it.
“There’s no problem should we want to travel a little later in the evening. Last time, we’d worry if we were to travel late,” Aruan added.
The development that follows
With connectivity comes momentum.
Beyond the asphalt, development has followed. Employment opportunities have expanded, transforming local economies where options were once scarce. Meanwhile, the necessity of travelling to distant cities for basic goods has faded, replaced by thriving local commerce.
Joseph Abang Paru of Serian sees this change as undeniable. Where once he travelled all the way to Kuching for supplies, those trips are no longer necessary.
“Whatever we needed, we have to go to Kuching to get it (supplies). Now, everything is here (in Serian),” Joseph said.
Yet this transformation has sparked bittersweet reflection: a wistful desire to experience these changes through younger eyes, to build careers and families in this new era.
Joseph’s only regret is experiencing the PBH in the latter part of his life.
“Serian is developing, but I am getting older. I don’t get to fully enjoy it. If only I can become young again to enjoy the highway,” he said with a solemn expression.
Still, even as some reflect on what might have been, younger generations are already building futures on this foundation; studying in cities while maintaining hometown ties, launching businesses that would have been unviable, and reimagining what’s possible in communities once considered too far.
Other side of progress
Every stride forward carries growing pains, and the PBH is no exception.
The distance between P-turns presents challenges for some communities. Vendors in Lachau, for instance, find that while one direction of travel may be convenient, the return route can require a significant detour.
Lachau vendor Elice voiced concern that the spacing of P-turns affects the local economy. Visitors from Kuching often stop in Lachau as it lies naturally along their route, but those from Sri Aman may bypass it due to distant turning points.
“Only those (travelling from Sri Aman) who wants to stop by will make the P-turn. Those who don’t will just head straight back to Kuching,” Elice said.
Ali echoed similar concerns for shorter, local journeys.
“Of course, the highway (PBH) brings about ease, but for us (local residents), the P-turn is much too far,” he said.
Such concerns highlight an important truth: infrastructure reshapes not only distance, but patterns of movement and commerce. Adjustments will require time.
Yet beyond logistics, there is another responsibility worth considering. A highway of this scale is only as enduring as the collective care taken to preserve it. For the PBH to remain a source of pride for generations to come, its upkeep becomes a shared responsibility—one that belongs as much to the people who use it as to those who built it.
Keeping its corridors clean, its rest areas well-maintained, and reporting wear where it appears are small acts that carry long consequences. The PBH, after all, is a legacy that Sarawakians have inherited together; and one best looked after the same way.
Beyond phase one
As Phase 1 approaches completion, momentum continues to build. Phase 2, now known as the Trans Borneo Highway and Northern Coastal Highway is already in its early stages. This next stage of connectivity is also complemented by the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road (SSLR) project, a major infrastructure initiative that was officially launched and commenced last year by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim together with Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The SSLR project was designed to strengthen road connectivity along the northern interior corridor of Borneo, providing an alternative route linking Sarawak and Sabah while opening up access to rural and border communities that have long remained geographically isolated.
Once completed, it is expected to connect seamlessly with Sabah’s stretch of the PBH, forming a continuous road network across Northern Borneo. Together with the PBH, the SSLR will form part of a broader road ecosystem that enhances inter-state mobility, strengthens economic links, and expands development opportunities throughout the region.
The result will be more than an extended highway. It signals deeper regional integration and a new chapter of economic expansion, unlocking fresh opportunities for communities across both Sarawak and Sabah.
The PBH began as a vision in 1963; an audacious idea conceived at the dawn of nationhood. Today, it stands as a living corridor of transformation. It has shortened journeys, strengthened safety, stimulated commerce and redrawn the mental map of what is near and what is far.
As planners continue refining the highway based on feedback from daily users, hope remains that its benefits will reach every corner along this evolving corridor.
The Pan Borneo Highway stands proof of what vision can achieve—a vein of possibility unfurling across the terrain, carrying with it the promise of development and better days ahead. — DayakDaily
