Kota Kinabalu: The State Public Works Ministry will present three alternative routes for the Pan Borneo Highway project to avoid cutting through and disturbing the Tawai Forest Reserve in Telupid to the State Cabinet.
Its Minister Datuk Shahelmy Yahya said discussions would be held for the State Cabinet to decide the best outcome for the project following public outcry.
He said there would be consideration for the best alternative route and several factors would be looked into including readiness of design, time for proposed route implementation as well as cost.
“We are currently reviewing and waiting for State Cabinet endorsement for the final decision on this issue,” he said at the Sabah Public Works Ministry Outstanding Performance Award (APC) ceremony.
State Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Frederick Kugan said concerns were expressed regarding the highway originally routed to pass through the Tawai Forest Reserve.
Conservationists said the 30km stretch holds rich biodiversity and would bring with it increased fire, haze, and smoke risk in the forest if disturbed.
The Bornean Peacock Phesant (polyplectron schleirmacher) that was long thought to have gone extinct is believed to have been discovered in the Tawai Forest Reserve.
The concerns also include increased human-wildlife conflicts by disrupting the Bornean elephant range and other iconic wildlife including Orang Utans, besides providing easier access for poachers.
He said mitigation measures must be established to limit the impact of the project if unavoidable but that consideration for rerouting should be top priority.
Regarding road conditions in Sabah, Shahelmy said the Ministry would study the areas that are in bad state to determine whether these are federal, state, district council or estate roads.
He said if it is a federal road, then concessionaires have been appointed by the Federal Government to maintain the road, and his Ministry would tackle the issues on a case-to-case basis.
“We have existing strict policies, but it is a matter of human resource which needs to be more proactive and responsive towards these issues.
“We are open to any comments or complaints, and we will look into them in detail before making any follow-up actions,” he added.
Also present were Assistant Ministers of Works Datuk Robert Tawik, Datuk Limus Jury and Sabah Public Works Department Director Arman Abd Muin, among others.
