THE government will call for investors at the end of the year in the multi-billion ringgit Labuan bridge project, said Labuan MP Rozman Isli.

The project is a private finance initiative and the investors potentially repaid through land swaps and concession deals such as toll collection.

“It is my hope there will be many investor groups willing to undertake the project and invest in the bridge,” said Rozman in Kota Kinabalu.

The Labuan MP is in town heading a delegation from trade associations in his constituency to meet with Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Rosman said Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad has announced that the contracts for the project will be awarded end-2020.

“The FT Ministry and Economic Affairs Ministry have agreed to go ahead with the project as a PFI and have met with the Sabah chief minister (to discuss the project),” he said.

Rozman added he wants the bridge to benefit the people and not just the industries. He hopes the toll will not exceed RM10.

The 10km Labuan bridge is expected to cost more than RM5 billion. It will link Labuan to Menumbok on mainland Sabah.

Rozman said the bridge will greatly boost the island’s tourism and business sectors.

He said the island was overwhelmed by the traffic generated by the “few hundred thousand” vehicles that visit each year.

“The regular ferry service has to operate additional trips from the Menumbok jetty to Labuan, especially during the festive seasons and weekends.

One of the reasons for today’s meeting with Shafee was to seek his assistance in improving the Menumbok jetty facilities, he said.

Located at the Sabah mainland, the jetty is one of the connecting points between Kota Kinabalu and Labuan.

It is an essential facility for the more than half of the 100,000 workers in Labuan who live on the mainland.

Rozman said he has requested for a second ferry ramp at the jetty from the Sabah governent.

He also asked for the ongoing Pan Borneo highway project to include upgrading work for the road from Beaufort to Menumbok, and permission from the Sabah government for Labuan fishermen to fish in Sabah waters, saying the area allotted to them was too small. – September 23, 2019.