LUNDU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today officiated the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a 32.7km single carriage way linking Telok Melano and Sematan.
Costing RM700 million, the project is one of the components under the multi billion ringgit Pan Borneo Highway development.
In his speech during the event, Najib described the project as the catalyst for transformation of the economic landscape in Sarawak.
"The Pan Borneo Highyway with a total cost of RM18 billion is a reflection that Sarawak is always close to my heart.
"I envision that the highway will become the game changer for the economic landscape in the state, which in turn could improve the livelihood of the people in the state," said Najib to loud cheers and applause from more than 5,000 crowd attending the event, which was held in Sematan here.
Najib had officiated the ground breaking ceremony for the project, involving the upgrading and construction of new roads along the 1,076km route linking Lundu and Lawas in the state, in March this year.
The ground-breaking ceremony marks the physical beginning of the fulfilment of a promise made in April two years ago, in Barisan Nasional's "Aku Janji" manifesto for the last general election.
"The Barisan Nasional government always honour its promises.
"It is my aspiration that the Pan Borneo Highway will be my legacy for the people in the state," said Najib.