KUCHING: A decision by the Federal government to terminate of the project delivery partner (PDP) agreement for the Sarawak portion of Pan Borneo Highway project with Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd (LBU), is a failure of the PH government in serving Sarawakians.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told the New Sarawak Tribune that the termination would delay the Pan Borneo Highway or even put the project to a halt.
“We are unsure whether the original highway plan would even be completed. In their craving to save cost, the PH government might amend the original plan.
“The new plan might just see the existing roads being upgraded and we may not see a highway from Sematan to Miri at all,” he lamented.
According to a newsportal, the rationale behind the decision is cost-saving although, nearly half of the first phase (45 per cent) of the Sarawak sector of the Pan Borneo Highway has been completed.
“Now with news of the PDP agreement with LBU being terminated, it has put a nail into this highway project and all Sarawakians will suffer,” Abdul Karim pointed out.
He added that even before the highway is completed, with some sectors not even taking off, the Minister of Works Baru Bian already had other ideas of having a highway to by-pass Brunei.
“Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Baru Bian have failed Sarawak miserably,” he said.
Meanwhile, LBU when contacted said the company has yet to receive any official letter pertaining to the termination of the PDP agreement.
“We have no statement to make as there is no official letter from the government yet.”
