Pan Borneo Highway progress under close watch as every delay comes at a cost, says Salleh

KOTA KINABALU (June 24): Project delays, especially the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway, not only escalate construction costs but also delay the economic and social benefits intended for the people, Sabah inspector general of projects Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said.

Stressing that there should be no room for avoidable setbacks, Salleh reaffirmed his commitment to closely monitoring the implementation of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project to ensure accountability among all stakeholders.

He emphasised that clear timelines and targets have been set for the mega infrastructure project, noting that the responsibility now lies in ensuring that every package is delivered according to schedule.

“Every delay comes with a cost. It increases project expenses and delays the economic and social benefits that the people of Sabah deserve. The timelines are clear. The targets are known. The people of Sabah expect results,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Salleh said that as the Sabah inspector general of projects, he will continue working in tandem with the Public Works Department (JKR), contractors, and related government agencies to promptly address any issues affecting progress on the ground.

The statement followed a site inspection carried out with JKR officials, contractors and relevant agencies on Tuesday, during which Salleh noted encouraging progress in several key work packages under Phase 1A.

He said Work Packages (WPs) 3, 4, 10 and 29 are on track to achieve certificate of partial completion (CPC) status this year.

“A major milestone was achieved under WP4 with the opening of the new four-lane dual carriageway between the Bongawan Flyover and Benoni Flyover on June 15, which is expected to significantly improve the traffic flow and road safety,” he said.

He added that WP6 and WP7 are scheduled to complete their original scope of work and attain CPC status by October this year, opening the route between the Putatan Flyover and the Sepanggar Interchange.

The remaining five packages under Phase 1A are scheduled for completion between 2027 and 2028.

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