KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah portion of the Pan Borneo Highway project will see 12 work packages being completed by June 2022 and three packages by 2023.
State Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony said the state government had agreed to reappoint all working contractors, whose contract had ended with the termination of Project Delivery Partner (PDP).
He was replying to Datuk Limus Jury (Upko-Kuala Penyu) at the state assembly sitting today on the status of the highway following the termination of PDP on Sept 21.
“The Public Works Ministry has taken over the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway as project owner.
“It has been handed over to the state government through the Infrastructure Development Ministry and state Public Works Department as executing agent.
“Implementation of the 15 work packages will be continued under the 11th Malaysian Plan, while the remaining 20 packages will be executed under the 12th Malaysian Plan,” said Peter.
Responding to a supplementary question from Limus on reasons for the termination of PDP, he said the decision was made by the Federal Government as it was a federal project.
Peter reiterated that work packages would be given to the original contractors based on their original contract agreement, subject to whether they were ready to accept the new price package.
To an additional question by Datuk Bolkiah Ismail (Parti Warisan Sabah-Pitas) on whether small licensed contractors would be given opportunities to take part in the project, Peter said the state government had set up a committee chaired by the state secretary and representatives of the Finance Ministry to look into the matter.
“As we are now the implementer, the overall decision on appointment will be made by the state (government).
“Therefore, we will give opportunities to Sabah contractors and they must be registered under the state government,” he said.