High progress at some Pan Borneo packages
Published on: Sunday, January 19, 2020
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
KIMANIS: The Federal Ministry of Works clarified that while the implementation of the new Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project has only reached 22 per cent, some of the project’s construction packages have actually high percentage of work progress and ahead of schedule.
Its Minister Baru Bian said the Donggongon-Papar package recorded 61.65 per cent followed by Batu 32- Lot M, Sandakan package with 57 per cent.
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Another package — the Lahad Datu Bypass route package is currently at 34 per cent completed, while the route package between Sindumin and Kg. Melalia, Sipitang is at 31 per cent, he said.
“The Bongawan-Papar route upgrading package or known as WP04 being implemented by Pembinaan Kekal Mewah contractor is ahead of schedule by 2.57 per cent despite the new physical achievement of 23.96 per cent compared to target completion at 21.39 per cent.
“I personally will monitor the progress as I will be passing through this area from Kota Kinabalu to Lawas to return to my area,” he said.
Baru said in a press conference after a briefing on the Bongawan-Papar Road Package, at the WPO4 site, here on Thursday.
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Also present were State Public Works Department Deputy Director Edward Lingkapo, its Principal Assistant Director (Pan Borneo Project Division) Yapp Vun Khun, Papar PWD engineer Sarinah Guriaman and Pembinaan Kekal Mewah Sdn Bhd Director Jeremy Tan.
Baru said the 22.6-km route stretches from Bongawan to Kimanis and Benoni in Papar is part of the Pan Borneo Highway route package in West Coast with a cost of RM560 million.
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“Currently, the contractor for the package is nearing completion in carrying out cleaning work on the site with a current performance of 95.63 percent, while ground work is reaching 54.91 percent.
“The Pan Borneo project was the subject raised in the Kimanis by-election campaign when the opposition claimed the project was abandoned after it was taken over by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
“The project was never cancelled because we want it built according to specifications and quality for the benefit of the people and the State.
“Instead, under my Ministry, we found that there were better ways to implement the Pan Borneo Highway and save the government a huge sum of money that could be better used for implementation of other infrastructure projects that would be beneficial to the people,” he said.
Under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), Baru said the Ministry have completed upgrading and road building works on namely:-
1) Package 1 of Jalan Donggongon to Simpang Jalan Papar Spur while packages 2 and 3 are at 78 per cent completion;
2) Jalan Lahad Datu to Tawau and Lahad Datu to Sandakan;
3) Jalan roundabout Papar to roundabout Benoni Sabah;
4) Elevated junctions and a third lane on most Federal roads in Kota Kinabalu City; and
5) Sipitang Sndumin to Sipitang Oil & Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP).
He said two bridges have also completed namely the Compact Bailey Bridge 200 towards Mesilau Nature Resort, Kundasang and at Jalan Kota Kinabalu-Kudat.
In addition, Baru said the ministry is working on two road slopes at Jalan Kota Kinabalu- Keningau Tenom and Jalan Kota Kinabalu- Kudat, and Jalan Tamparuli-Ranau although quite challengiung due to weather condition but safety of the people is most crucial that is being emphasised.
Moving forward for 2020, Baru said a total of RM494 million has been approved and allocated for infrastructure works in Sabah involving roads, bridges and slopes namely:-
1)A new road from Donggongon to Tambunan from a junction at ITCC to Kolopis junction that have been identified and will be built with the cost of RM300 million;
2) Six new small bridges totalling RM28.5 million will be built in Sandakan, Kudat and Kota Kinabalu and;
3)Six areas of rebuilding slopes have been identified costing RM53 million.
“As we move into the new decade, 2020 is a crucial time for Sabah together with Sarawak to rise as nations in Boneo. Indonesia’s capital move will have positive impact on us and we must be ready, starting with our infrastructure development plan.
“Since assuming the role of Minister of Works, I have been pushing, among others, three key crucial road development plans for Sabah and Sarawak which are the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah, the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road and the Trans-Borneo Highway from Serudong in Kalabakan, Tawau to Simangaris and Melinau in Kalimantan to Sarawak areas and connecting Long Pasia in Sipitang, Sabah.
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