PHASE one of the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sarawak is now 86% complete, according to Works Minister Fadillah Yusof.

He said several more sections of the highway will open this year and three other sections in Sarikei, Bukit Begunan and Lambir are due for completion next year.

“The three sections are facing various challenges including a site that needs to be re-examined.

“There are even some that require re-processing of the design due to the unsuitable terrain conditions,” he told reporters in Kuching last night.

The RM16.1 billion Pan Borneo Highway phase one involves the construction of a 786km stretch of road from Telok Melano to Miri.

Meanwhile, Fadillah said the Ministry of Finance is also currently finalising procurement for the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) Phase 2 project and the Trans Borneo Highway (LTB) project, with RM12 billion set aside for both projects.

“We also hope to be able to finalise the awarding of contracts to contractors this year and by early next year this project will be able to start,” he said.

On August 7, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the federal government had approved the SSLR Phase 2 and the LTB, and construction would commence as early as next year.

Ismail said technical research for the two projects connecting Miri, Limbang and Lawas is now in the final stage, with construction expected to take three to five years. – Bernama, September 4, 2022.