Phase 1a Pan Borneo Highway Project Achieved 77.41 Per Cent Progress, Ready In 2026 - Nanta

PENAMPANG, July 29 (Bernama) -- The work progress of Phase 1A of the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway is now 77.41 per cent and is expected to be completed by 2026 at the latest, said Public Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said work on Phase 1A of the highway involved 15 packages, of which four have been completed.

 "Phase 1A should have been completed,  but because of the many problems, including almost becoming a sick project, it is delayed but is expected to be completed in 2026,” he told a press conference after surveying the work progress of Phase 1A of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1A here today.

Earlier, he visited the site of the construction of the highway stretch at  Sindumin-Kampung Melalia, Kampung Melalia-Beaufort, and Putatan-Inana.

Accompanying him was Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, who is also Sabah Public Works Minister and Semporna Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Nanta said the delay in the construction of Phase 1A of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1A was due to several factors, including coordination problems between parties involved in the project, especially contractors, government agencies and consultants.

"I have discussed with the Minister of Public Works of Sabah (Shahelmey) so that we can jointly address this problem, in addition to having regular meetings to coordinate matters," he said.

On claims that the progress of the highway project was slow due to a shortage of funds, he said it was because the contractors failed to submit complete documents when making their claims.

Regarding Phase 1B of the highway project, Nanta said it was in the tender process.

Meanwhile, the Public Works Ministry (KKR), in a statement, said the survey today also focused on efforts by the ministry to manage the recent flood incidents in Sabah, especially in Penampang near the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1A here.

According to the statement, one of the main causes of the flood was the unusual rainfall causing water in nearby rivers to overflow its bank.

It is also because of the poor drainage system of the Right of Way (ROW) of Jalan Persekutuan.

"The Public Works Department (JKR), Drainage and Irrigation Department and the local government authorities (PBT) will take immediate action in the event of a flood at the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project construction area to reduce the negative impact on the residents and the project," it said.

-- BERNAMA