KOTA KINABALU – The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is set to experience the current state of Sabah's roadways firsthand during His Majesty’s upcoming Pan Borneo Highway tour next month.
Works Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said the king has been well-informed that the Sabah portion of the highway is incomplete.
He added the king was also informed of the treacherous “jalan bulan” sections, colloquially dubbed “moon surface roads” due to their pothole-riddled conditions.
“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is fully aware that the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah remains unfinished.
“During his tour, His Majesty will also navigate the very same Jalan Bulan roads that ordinary drivers grapple with,” Linggi shared with reporters during his visit to Papar to oversee road upgrades along Bongawan-Papar.
Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah is scheduled to commence his Jelajah Kembara Borneo journey on September 3 in Tawau.
Also present was Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
His tour will encompass a 600km exploration of the Sabah section before proceeding to Sarawak for the second leg of the tour.
Linggi also acknowledged the Pan Borneo Highway will not be completed in time for the king’s tour, attributing largely the project’s late start in Sabah.
Construction commenced in Sarawak in 2015 and Sabah in 2016, said Linggi, revealing the progress in Sarawak, in contrast, stands at an impressive 97% to completion.
Linggi also disclosed that there are 35 working packages for Sabah, with 19 packages yet to be awarded to contractors.
A shortage of materials, particularly bitumen, has been blamed for the delays, said Linggi, adding that he has urged suppliers Petronas and Shell to ramp up production.
Linggi said he expects contracts for the remaining packages to be made by year-end and therefore bring the Sabah portion of the highway closer to completion. – The Vibes, August 20, 2023
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