KUCHING, Dec 9: Newly minted Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi is planning to go on a road tour of the entire length of the Pan Borneo Highway some time next year to see the real situation on the ground, including to examine the progress of the mega project for both Sarawak and Sabah.
Nanta emphasised that the road tour is compulsory as he reiterated his commitment to see the successful completion of the mega project for both Sarawak and Sabah stretches.
“This is a mega project which is full of significance to Sarawak and Sabah. So my focus is obviously on its successful completion.
“As of Nov 25 this year, the physical progress on the Sarawak side is at 90.9 per cent and is expected to completed by 2024,” he said at a press conference after a briefing on Sarawak infrastructure development and programmes given to him by Deputy Sarawak Premier and Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas here today.
Nanta added there are many more projects carried out by the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak which he would be turning his attention to.
“As had been announced  by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, my Ministry together that of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development under Datuk Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and that of the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities under another Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, we have to work together with the Sarawak government to look at the plans and implementation of projects under our respective ministries,” he said.
Meanwhile, Uggah emphasised that Sarawak hopes to receive more allocations in the years ahead, particularly in developing rural roads.
“We need to construct at least 2,000km of new roads to connect about 400 rural settlements still unconnected by any road.
“We are implementing our Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 where the objective is to ensure Sarawak becomes a developed State by 2030. This includes linking up these settlements with roads within the period.
“We have communicated this to Nanta and the Federal government,” he said.
In addition, Uggah pointed out that Sarawak also needs assistance to repair over 1,000km of abandoned logging and plantation roads as there has been no maintenance on them since the timber or plantation companies left the areas concerned. — DayakDaily
