KUCHING: Newly appointed Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi today reiterated that one of his top priorities was to see the successful completion of the Pan-Borneo Highway project in both Sarawak and Sabah.
“This is a mega project which is full of significance to Sarawak and Sabah. So, my focus is obviously on its successful completion,” he said.
Nanta spoke at a media conference after a briefing on Sarawak Infrastructure development and programmes given to him by Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah here today (Dec 9).
Nanta said that as of November 25 this year, the physical progress of the Pan-Borneo Highway project on the Sarawak side was 90.9 per cent. It was expected to be completed by 2024.
“I have, in fact, thought of going on a road tour of the whole Pan Borneo Highway Project from both the Sarawak and Sabah sides to see the real situation on the ground sometime next year. This is compulsory for me,” he said.
The Kapit MP also disclosed that he would also focus on many more projects to be carried out by the state JKR.
Meanwhile, on the briefing, he said it was generally to give him and his team a picture of how to intensify the Works Ministry’s efforts in developing the state Infrastructure.
“As had been announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, my ministry, the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development under Datuk Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi, who is the Deputy Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities under Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof have to work together with the Sarawak government to look at the plans and implementation of projects under our respective ministries,” he said.
Meanwhile, Uggah said Sarawak hoped to receive more allocations in the years ahead, particularly in developing rural roads as the state government needed to construct at least 2,000 kilometres of new roads to connect about 400 rural settlements still unconnected by any road.
“As you know, we are implementing our Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 where the objective is to ensure Sarawak becomes a developed state by 2030.
“This includes linking up these settlements with roads within the period. We have communicated this to Alexander and the federal government.
“We also need assistance to repair the over 1,000 kilometres of abandoned logging and plantation roads. There has been no maintenance since the timber or plantation companies left the areas concerned.
“We also have raised some issues (with the federal government) on the implementation of the Pan Borneo Highway so that it can be completed as scheduled.
“Besides these, we want the state JKR to be accorded the technical department status. I must congratulate Alexander and Fadillah, both Sarawakians, on their respective appointments.
“Sarawak is very lucky that Alexander is helming a very important ministry. But while he has to take care of the whole country, I hope he pays a bit more attention to Sarawak,” he said.
