CCCC to construct RM7.4bil Sarawak-Sabah highway bypassing Brunei using mountain tunneling expertise.
LAWAS: An internationally acclaimed Chinese construction firm specialising in mountain highway development and tunneling will be engaged to construct the ambitious Sarawak-Sabah highway that bypasses Brunei, a Federal Government initiative with an allocated budget of RM7.4 billion.
The China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has been selected to execute tunneling operations through challenging hilly landscapes and construct mountain roadways across northern Sarawak’s Baram, Bario, and Lawas districts as integral components of the interstate connection project.
The Sarawak Ministry of Infrastructure and Ports Development announced today that Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah conducted a meeting with CCCC’s senior leadership in Chengdu, China, on October 27, during which he toured highway projects executed by the company.
According to the ministry’s statement, the delegation obtained crucial knowledge regarding CCCC’s environmentally sustainable approaches to mountain and hilly terrain tunneling employed in their mountain expressway developments across remote Chinese regions.
“These construction methodologies align perfectly with our strategy for highway development in the Sarawak-Sabah corridor, which will establish land routes through challenging geographical features in Baram, Bario, and Lawas for the interstate highway, as well as in Sebuyau in southern Sarawak where an additional road initiative is planned,” the ministry stated.
“Sarawak is broadening our terrestrial connectivity across mountainous regions and peatland areas, and we aim to implement best practices that minimize ecological impact,” the ministry emphasised.
“CCCC possesses comprehensive international credentials in mountain highway construction and tunneling, having completed projects across 159 nations. Sarawak stands to gain significantly from their technical proficiency.”
The Sarawak-Sabah border territory, extending from Sarawak’s northernmost Lawas district into Sabah, is poised for accelerated socio-economic development as the Federal government has expedited construction of the new Lawas Airport, the Lawas deep-sea port facility, and the northern Sarawak coastal highway that will connect with the Sarawak-Sabah Highway bypassing Brunei.
Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong confirmed last week that Putrajaya has approved these major infrastructure projects.
Addressing attendees at a community gathering co-hosted by the Sarawak Police in Lawas town, Henry outlined how the new major projects would generate beneficial economic spillovers on both the Sarawak and Sabah sides of the border.
“The planned Lawas Airport will establish direct aviation connections to Lawas, attracting tourists to northernmost Sarawak,” he explained.
“The deep-sea port facility will strengthen maritime commerce and stimulate substantial industrial expansion, while the coastal highway will enable more efficient land transportation.”
“The Sarawak-Sabah Highway bypassing Brunei will allow travelers from other parts of Sarawak to reach Lawas and continue into Sabah via uninterrupted highway infrastructure. These developments collectively will drive long-term growth for the Sarawak-Sabah region,” Henry stated.
Henry also noted that the Sarawak police is strengthening its operational presence along the border area, which will help prevent criminal activities and address drug trafficking challenges at the border zone.
Recent reports indicate that the 13th Malaysia Plan’s multi-billion ringgit allocation from Putrajaya over the next five years to complete the Sarawak-Sabah Highway bypassing Brunei and construct the trans-Borneo Sarawak-Kalimantan-Nusantara superhighway will fundamentally transform Borneo’s entire socio-economic landscape.
The Sarawak Business Federation, representing hundreds of commercial entities as an umbrella organisation, has commended the Federal Government for prioritising these critical land connections for Sarawak, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the 13MP presentation in August.
Federation secretary-general Datuk Jonathan Chai described the 13MP as holding exceptional importance for Sarawak.
“The outlined strategy appears set to revolutionise the Sarawak-Sabah and Sarawak-Kalimantan to Nusantara landscape in terms of terrestrial connectivity,” Chai said.
“The direct Sarawak-Sabah Highway will dramatically enhance the road linkage between the two states.”
The infrastructure developments represent a comprehensive approach to regional integration, combining aviation, maritime, and land transportation improvements that will position the Sarawak-Sabah border region as a key economic corridor in Malaysian Borneo.
