Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan urges contractors to avoid Phase 1A issues and ensure quality, timely delivery of the RM14 billion Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1B.
KINABATANGAN: Contractors for Phase 1B of the Pan Borneo Highway must ensure the project runs smoothly and meets all quality, time and cost specifications.
Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan said problems like land acquisition and utility relocation encountered in Phase 1A must be avoided.
He said the Public Works Department is working to shorten the land acquisition and utility relocation period from two years to one year by appointing private valuers.
“Previously, we did not have enough appraisers, only six of them in Sabah. Therefore, the monthly meeting decided to appoint private valuers to speed up the process of land acquisition,” he told reporters after visiting a work package site.
He said this step aligns with the Prime Minister’s message for the ministry to adopt a sense of urgency on all projects facing problems.
The Pan Borneo Highway Sabah Phase 1B project has a total implementation cost of RM14 billion.
This comprises RM5 billion in development allocation and RM9 billion through loans.
Regarding Phase 1A, which involves a 318-kilometre stretch, Ahmad said physical work progress is at 86.53%.
For Phase 1B, which involves a 388-km stretch, physical progress is currently at 12.27%.
