THE Federal Works Ministry in Putrajaya has agreed to the ambitious plan to construct a mega-railway project linking Sarawak to Sabah and eventually to Kalimantan on Borneo Island.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said his ministry had received a preliminary proposal on this Trans-Borneo Railway Project.
“The idea for this mega-railway linking Sarawak and Sabah and eventually to connect to Kalimantan came from Transport Minister Datuk Anthony Loke.
“The federal government looks at this mega project favourably.
“That is why the federal government had approved a financial allocation specifically to carry out a feasibility ground study on the Trans-Borneo Railway routes involving the Sarawak-Sabah side,” he told the media at a function in Kuching today.
Nanta, who is Kapit MP, said the mega-railway project linking Sarawak-Sabah and later to Kalimantan will definitely see the three Borneo regions enjoying mutual benefits.
“The Indonesian government is already relocating its national capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in Kalimantan, thereby creating tremendous openings for trade links, social networks and future economic and industrial investments that would also benefit Sarawak and Sabah.
“Having a railway linking all three regions will definitely be meaningful as it will facilitate transportation of people, goods and cargoes en masse throughout Borneo,” he said.
As for how much will be needed to build such a vast railway that will span Borneo Island, Nanta said no financial estimates had been discussed as yet.
“The cost of the actual project itself can only be determined after the feasibility study has been done,” he said.
On October 31, it was announced that the federal government will finance a ground survey to look into the feasibility of constructing this railway network to link Sarawak and Sabah and eventually to connect with the Indonesian province of Kalimantan.
The Trans-Borneo Railway Project, if realised, will be the first and largest railway project on Borneo Island.
Currently, Sarawak, Sabah and Kalimantan are connected by land and air. – The Vibes, November 13, 2023
