By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 8: The Ministry of Works (KKR) is taking seriously the 13 findings in the Auditor-General’s Report concerning Phase 1 of the Pan Borneo Highway (LPB) Sabah project, said Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
He said the findings, which include project delays, cost increases, weaknesses in planning and non-compliance with regulations and guidelines, would serve as lessons for the ministry to improve the implementation of the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah and other federal government development projects.
“As of August 25, 2026, only four of the 35 work packages under Phase 1 of the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah had been completed, while the remaining 31 packages are still under implementation,” he noted in a statement posted on his social media on Wednesday (Oct 7).
The report also indicated that physical progress of Phase 1A had reached 89.01 per cent, while Work Package 09 (WP09) stood at 37.58 per cent and Phase 1B at 23.96 per cent.
He said several factors had contributed to delays, including the change in implementation method from the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) model to the conventional method, the Covid-19 pandemic, land acquisition issues, utility relocation and contractor performance.
“The termination of the PDP model in 2019 also resulted in the need for a new procurement process before 15 contractors for Phase 1A were awarded contracts in 2021,” he said.
On the increase in the cost of Phase 1A, Nanta said it was attributed to extensions of time, changes in scope, construction contract prices, as well as unresolved land and utility issues.
He said the status of sites being free from obstructions had now reached 99.79 per cent for Phase 1A, 96.8 per cent for WP09 and 79.43 per cent for Phase 1B.
Nanta said KKR was also taking steps to strengthen the capabilities of officers involved in the project.
He said relevant officers from the Public Works Department (JKR) Sabah and KKR had been directed to attend administration and contract management courses in collaboration with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and CREATE JKR Malaysia.
The courses are aimed at strengthening officers’ skills in the preparation of Bills of Quantities, cost determination and contract documentation.
Nanta also highlighted the role of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Steering Committee, which was established in November 2024 to strengthen monitoring of the project through site visit programmes.
He said the Sabah Chief Minister had recommended that the committee be co-chaired by the KKR Secretary-General and the Sabah State Secretary to further strengthen coordination among state agencies.
Nanta also expressed his appreciation to the KKR team led by its Secretary-General Dato’ Sri Azman Ibrahim, as well as JKR Malaysia, JKR Sarawak and JKR Sabah, for their commitment and dedication in providing input to facilitate the debate. — DayakDaily
