KOTA KINABALU: The implementation delays affecting Sabah’s Pan Borneo Highway Project Phase 1A should not be attributed exclusively to the Sabah State Government, as the project faces numerous technical, administrative, and financial obstacles.
Sabah’s Chief Inspector of Projects Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak explained that the project encounters several significant constraints, including land acquisition, utility relocation, and the necessity to adjust designs according to actual site conditions.
“Sabahans don’t need a culture of blame-shifting. They want to see this highway completed.
“What’s needed is stronger cooperation, quicker decisions, and more efficient approvals,” he stated through his recent Facebook post.
He noted that over 70 percent of the project involves expanding existing Federal roads from two to four lanes, which demands careful coordination since it also affects buildings and residential areas.
Salleh indicated that modifications to the original design that did not fully align with on-site conditions contributed to delays, alongside technical assessment processes and financial approvals required from the Ministry of Works (KKR) and Ministry of Finance (MOF).
Consequently, Salleh recommended that both ministries establish faster and clearer approval mechanisms, particularly regarding Work Change Orders (VO) and budget adjustments, to prevent recurring delays.
He emphasized that successful project implementation requires collaboration among all stakeholders, including the Federal Government, State Government, consultants, contractors, and utility companies, with each party evaluated according to their respective jurisdiction and responsibilities.
