Phase 1A of Pan Borneo Sabah at 77.41% completion, ready in 2026, says Nanta

• "Phase 1A should have been completed,  but because of the many problems, including almost becoming a sick project, it was delayed, but is expected to be completed in 2026.”

PENAMPANG (July 30): The work progress of Phase 1A of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway is now at 77.41%, and is expected to be completed by 2026 at the latest, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said work on Phase 1A of the highway involves 15 packages, of which four have been completed.

"Phase 1A should have been completed,  but because of the many problems, including almost becoming a sick project, it was delayed, but is expected to be completed in 2026,” he told a press conference after surveying the work progress of Phase 1A of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway here on Monday.

Earlier, he visited the site of the construction of the highway stretch at Sindumin-Kampung Melalia, Kampung Melalia-Beaufort, and Putatan-Inanam.

Accompanying him was Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, who is also the Sabah public works minister, and Semporna Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Nanta said the delay in the construction of Phase 1A of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway was due to several factors, including coordination problems between parties involved in the project, especially contractors, government agencies and consultants.

"I have discussed with the minister of public works of Sabah (Shahelmey), so that we can jointly address this problem, in addition to having regular meetings to coordinate matters," he said.

On claims that the progress of the highway project was slow due to a shortage of funds, he said it was because the contractors failed to submit complete documents when making their claims.

Regarding Phase 1B of the highway project, Nanta said it is in the tender process.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Works, in a statement, said the survey on Monday also focused on efforts by the ministry to manage the recent flood incidents in Sabah, especially in Penampang near the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway's Phase 1A here.

According to the statement, one of the main causes of the flood was unusual rainfall causing water in nearby rivers to overflow the bank.

It is also because of the poor drainage system of the right of way of Jalan Persekutuan.

"The Public Works Department, Drainage and Irrigation Department, and the local government authorities will take immediate action in the event of a flood at the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project construction area to reduce the negative impact on residents and the project," it said.

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