Pan Borneo a catalyst for development: Residents
Published on: Saturday, November 06, 2021
By: Bernama
.jpg "Pan Borneo a catalyst for development: Residents")
The Pan Borneo Highway: Residents see the project as a catalyst for socio-economic development, especially for small traders operating along the alignment of the project.
KINABATANGAN: The Sabah East Zone of the Pan Borneo Highway Project is expected to be a catalyst for socio-economic development, especially for small traders operating along the alignment of the project.The residents involved, when met Friday, said the highway should be more than merely a transportation system, as the project is expected to rejuvenate the socio-economy of the areas involved if the highway alignment was properly planned.
ADVERTISEMENT
Adillia Madjaril, 48, who runs a restaurant in Kinabatangan town, said residents, especially petty traders, would benefit from the increase in business and economic activities when the alignment runs close to their places.
“It (alignment) has to be close to here (Kinabatangan town), otherwise commuters will just bypass this town via the highway and don’t stop. If this happens, it’s not impossible this town will wither and small traders like us will be affected.
“So for me and the residents here, we are really in favour of the highway as it makes it easier for us to move around, but at the same time we ask that they plan well so that all residents can benefit fully,” she said, Friday.
Adillia said what is important is that the project can benefit them such as facilitating travel, without having to “sacrifice” other factors such as the economic level of the locals.
ADVERTISEMENT
Today (Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is scheduled to launch four new packages of the Pan Borneo Highway project for the Eastern Zone in the State involving the Kinabatangan-Sandakan-Beluran-Telupid alignment.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said on Thursday that contractors for the WP15, WP28, WP29 and WP30 packages have been appointed and that implementation work is to be carried out immediately after the launch and expected to be completed in 2024.
ADVERTISEMENT
Phase One of the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sabah involves 706km from Sindumin to Kota Kinabalu then Kudat, as well as Tawau to Sandakan Mile 32 until Ranau.
Jiha Dudu, 60, a snack food trader in Agro Bazar, Sandakan, said the move to build an entrance to the Agro Bazar area from the highway was a great relief to traders and hoped the highway would bring more travellers to the area.
“At first, we were worried about having to make way for the project but with its alignment lying next to the Agro Bazar, it is convenient for highway users to stop here for rest, meals and buy local goods which will profit traders here,” she said.
E-hailing food deliveryman Mohammad Firdaus Zaman, 26, said the highway is hoped to be a catalyst for economic sectors such as opening up of factories and tourism which in turn will provide more job opportunities for the locals.
He noted that most residents in the Eastern Zone are involved in the plantation sector and village work, and an improvement in the economic sector could generate jobs with better incomes.
Azhanizam Lanjun, 41, a cook at a Sandakan restaurant, said residents in the East Zone have been struggling with poverty for a long time, so the highway is expected to make a big difference to their lives.
“This poverty is due to lack of opportunities to generate income such as lack of jobs and potential customers to step up businesses; so we hope this highway can bring all these to change the lives of the people in this area,” he said.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
