SEMPORNA: The Government should terminate the contracts of companies that have failed to complete the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway projects on schedule.
Parti Warisan President, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the underperforming contractors should be replaced to ensure the projects run smoothly according to the schedule.
He said the highway which has been under development for almost 15 years should no longer face prolonged delays as it plays an important role in improving connectivity and ensuring the safety of road users.
“I had personally raised the matter to Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and requested for closer monitoring of the project while setting a clear timeline.
“The project needs not only continuous monitoring but also a clear timeline as the project has been under development for almost 15 years. The contractors that failed to meet their contract’s obligations should be replaced,” he said.
According to Shafie, who is also Semporna Member of Parliament, damaged road conditions not only affect travel times but also place additional financial pressure on motorists through higher fuel consumption and increased vehicle maintenance costs.
He also called on the Road Transport Department to strengthen enforcement against overloaded heavy vehicles, including logging lorries, to help preserve road infrastructure.
“Improving Sabah’s railway network would provide a practical alternative for transporting heavy goods and reduce reliance on road freight. The use of rail transport could help extend the lifespan of roads while lowering long-term maintenance costs borne by the government,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sabah Chief Projects Monitor Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak has inspected Work Packages 01 (WP01) and 02 (WP02) of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project to assess progress on the ground before submitting recommendations to the State Government to expedite their implementation.
He said the recent site visits focused on the technical and contractual issues affecting the two packages while enabling discussions with the implementing agencies and contractors on challenges faced during construction.
Salleh said he was briefed by the Public Works Department (JKR) and contractors on the current status of the projects, recovery measures being undertaken and the planned direction for both work packages.
Salleh said a report would be submitted to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor outlining the key findings, proposed solutions and recommendations, including matters requiring government intervention to accelerate implementation.
“Every delay comes with a cost, and our priority is to ensure infrastructure projects are completed efficiently so that the people of Sabah can enjoy their benefits without unnecessary delay,” he said.
Salleh said WP01 and WP02 are among the earliest packages under the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project, covering the southern alignment from Sindumin on the Sabah-Sarawak border to Beaufort.
He said WP01 links Sindumin with Kampung Melalia in Sipitang, while WP02 continues from Kampung Melalia to Klias in Beaufort.
According to Salleh, both packages are strategically important as they form the main connection between the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway network and the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway at Merapok.
The route is expected to improve road connectivity between Sipitang and Beaufort, strengthen logistics movement, provide better access for local communities and enhance transport links between Sabah’s southwest West Coast and other districts across the state.
