KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy Works Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup has insisted that the federal government is finding a way to ensure the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, he said that the government has created a joint committee with the involvement of the Finance Ministry, Economic Planning Unit, and the Works Ministry.
The committee is tasked with developing the best and most efficient methods to guarantee phase one of the Pan Borneo Highway is finalised in the shortest time, he said in response to a query on the project by R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH).
“One of the proposals was for a private finance initiative (PFI), a way that the private sector can finance public sector projects. The possibility of this will be considered by the committee,” Kurup said.
The project delivery partner (PDP) model for the project was reportedly cancelled by the former Pakatan Harapan federal government to save costs, resulting in a delay in the completion of the Sabah portion of the construction to 2023 and the Sarawak portion to 2022. It was originally scheduled to be completed this year.
Rayer interjected during Kurup’s speech to quiz on the project that was delayed, but Kurup assured that it would not be cancelled.
“It is the PDP structure that was cancelled, not the project itself,” Kurup said.
“We are currently trying to find the best way to make sure the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah will be completed.”
In September, Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof mentioned that the PFI under discussion for the continuation of the Sabah portion of the Pan Borneo Highway project may not generate much savings for the government.
Fadillah said this is due to the fact that the PDP was cancelled, bringing concerns of payments for compensation among other things.
The 1,236km-long Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah involves three phases of construction with a cost of RM40.2 million. – The Vibes, December 8, 2021
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