By Olivia Miwil - December 8, 2020 @ 12:22pm
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government says it wants to take the lead in implementing the Pan Borneo Highway project.
In a statement, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin also said that private funding will also help ensure the project's sustainability and expediency.
"I would like to propose to the federal government to allow the state government to implement the Pan Borneo Highway project via a private funding initiative.
"This is to ensure that the project will proceed without any issues," said Bung Moktar, who is also the state's Public Works minister.
A private finance initiative is a way of financing public sector projects through the private sector.
Bung Moktar said Sabahans deserve to have better and comfortable highways.
He also reiterated his dismay over the allocations reserved for the project under the 2021 Budget – only 25 per cent of the highway in Sabah will be implemented, while Sarawak gets 60 per cent.
"The road conditions in Sabah are pathetic compared to other states.
"If there is only RM460 million for a package, the desire of the people of Sabah to enjoy better and comfortable roads will not become a reality but a nightmare."
Last month, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that the federal government is committed to continuing the implementation of 15 work packages of the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sabah at RM10.12 billion.
The federal government had also appointed the Works Ministry as the project's owner, with the Sabah Public Works Department as its superintendent.
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