SRI AMAN – The government is ready to assist contractors for the Pan Borneo Highway project who are struggling with labour shortages and higher costs for construction materials following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said when the pandemic hit, many workers involved in the project returned to their countries of origin.
He said this resulted in the workforce involved in the highway’s construction being reduced to 70% of pre-pandemic numbers.
Apart from that, Fadillah said the supply of raw materials such as stones and sand had been affected by the closure of quarries and mines.
“The higher costs of diesel, steel and other basic materials for construction (also have an impact).
“We will identify the solutions and we are also discussing with the Finance Ministry to address the rising cost of construction materials,” he told reporters who participated in the FTRoadpedia Sarawak Tour programme, here, today.
The tour, held from today until Saturday and organised by the Works Ministry, is intended to allow participants to view developments in the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway, by crossing the districts of Kuching, Bintulu, Sibu and Miri.
Fadillah said despite the challenges, the completion status of the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway was now at 83%.
He said that one of the 11 packages had been fully completed, with the total length of the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway from Telok Melano to Pujut Link Road, Miri, being 786km. This phase of the project commenced in October 2015.
He added that some of the highway packages were behind schedule, but were not categorised as sick projects as they could still be completed. – Bernama, June 9, 2022
