By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 7: The Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak and Sabah will not be tolled, as it serves as the main route for connectivity in Borneo where no alternative roads currently exist, assures Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
He explained that the federal government had from the outset decided the highway would be toll-free to ensure that the people of Sarawak and Sabah enjoy unrestricted access to a vital transportation network.
“Pan Borneo is not like highways in Peninsular Malaysia, where there are usually alternative roads. In Sarawak and Sabah, this is the main route. So, there’s no justification to impose tolls,” Nanta said during the Interviu x Podcast Sinar Harian programme titled ‘Perspektif Politik dari Bumi Kenyalang: Suara Timur Malaysia’, which aired live today on Sinar Harian’s YouTube channel.
He reaffirmed that the project’s purpose is to upgrade existing trunk roads to better serve rural and urban communities alike, and introducing tolls would contradict that mission.
“If private parties wish to propose toll roads in the future, that’s up to the government of the day to decide. But for Pan Borneo, the decision is clear—no toll,” he stressed.
Nanta also highlighted that the toll-free policy was implemented in recognition of Sarawak and Sabah’s longstanding infrastructure needs and the importance of equitable development across all Malaysian regions.
The Pan Borneo Highway project, one of the largest infrastructure undertakings in East Malaysia, aims to significantly improve road safety, reduce travel time, and boost economic growth by enhancing connectivity throughout Borneo. — DayakDaily
