BETTER project management led to the quicker completion of the Pan-Borneo Highway in Sarawak, Public Works Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said.
He said that Sarawak opted to build the highway in only 11 packages, which were easier to manage, in contrast to the 35 packages to build the highway in Sabah.
Linggi was responding to the claim that the Sarawak part of the highway was more quickly completed because the works minister is from the state.
Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran-PN) made the claim, which Linggi denied.
"A factor is land acquisition, which is easier in Sarawak because the alignment does not require extensive land acquisition," Linggi said.
"Additionally, utility relocation was more difficult in Sabah than in Sarawak. There are many factors that make implementation in Sarawak easier, and because of that, its management was more straightforward."
He said that while it is not unusual for contractors to jostle for a piece of the Pan-Borneo Highway project, he was aware of the lobbying by interested parties.
As of February, the highway is 99% completed in Sarawak, compared to 87% in Sabah.
Earlier, Linggi said four contractors were appointed to undertake the building of portions of of Pan-Borneo Highway phase 1B in Sabah.
Linggi said the three-year delay for the Serusup to Pituru package was because of a search for qualified contractors. – June 26, 2024.
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