KUALA LUMPUR: About 60 per cent of the 12 work packages for Sabah's Pan Borneo Highway (PBH) project have commenced as of September this year.
A letter of acceptance for three new work packages from Sandakan Mile 32 to Sungai Baoto had also been issued and works expected to begin this year, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, in a reply to a question by Senator Datuk Bobbey Ahfang Suang at the Dewan Negara today.
Bobbey, who is Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) assistant information chief, was told that one new work package from Serusup to Pituru had been allocated in the First Rolling Plan (RP1) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
The Sabah PBH project consists of three phases where phase one was given priority for implementation totalling 706km and divided into 35 work packages.
The PBH would not only save travel time and transportation costs but also provide opportunities for the local contractors, consultants, vendors and suppliers to participate in the project which also produce skilled manpower among Sabahans.
According to Fadillah, the PBH project would also boost the industrial and investment sector in the Sabah corridor region as well as to promote a balance economy between the urban and rural areas, apart from improving the logistics services and existing investments identified under the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia).