KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the construction of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway expedited to ensure Sabahans enjoy better road facilities.

The Prime Minister said construction of the highway, which has been delayed for some time, needs to be accelerated without further hindrance.

“The Sarawak Pan Borneo is nearing completion, while in Sabah, it is still delayed. So it has been agreed with the Sabah government that we will do it as soon as possible.

“I told (Works Minister) Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof to take over, and I won’t interfere.

“I want the completion to be expedited so that Sabahans can experience this project, which is the longest highway in Malaysia – the Pan Borneo Highway – worth tens of billions of ringgit.

“The highways in the peninsula have tolls paid by users. The highways in Sabah and Sarawak are toll-free funded by the government for the people to use,” he said when speaking at the Sabah PKR Convention here yesterday, Bernama reported.

Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman; state Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Christina Liew; and state Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, among others.

On July 29, Nanta said that the construction of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1A project had reached 77.41% and is expected to be fully completed by 2026 at the latest.

Commenting on the implementation of targeted diesel subsidy, Anwar said that the Federal Government’s move, among others, is an effort to prevent the fuel from being stolen by irresponsible parties to be sold across the country’s borders.

He said Sabah and Sarawak were excluded due to the condition of the roads in both states, in addition to the high dependence of the people on the use of four-wheel-drive vehicles, which use diesel.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/05/expedite-sabah-pan-borneo-highway-construction-urges-anwar