Don’t leave Sabah in the dark over high-profile projects, govt told

Anifah Aman urged the federal government to also consider building a bridge between Sabah and Labuan.

PETALING JAYA: A senator from Sabah has called on Putrajaya to provide updates on several “high impact” projects that were approved earlier this year.

Anifah Aman said these projects include the Sapangar Bay container port approved during the 11th Malaysia Plan, and the Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP), for which interim payments have been made.

“I could extend this list. I do not intend to undermine the government’s efforts, but I hope the government doesn’t leave us in the dark,” Anifah, a former foreign minister, said when debating the 2024 budget in the Dewan Negara today.

The expansion of the Sapangar Bay container port is expected to be completed this year. New Straits Times reported previously that the berth length would be expanded from 500m to 850m, while the container stacking area would be expanded to 34ha from 13ha.

The RM4.06 billion TSGP project was initiated in 2016 under the Barisan Nasional administration. It involves laying 662km of gas pipelines from the Sabah oil and gas terminal in Kimanis on the state’s west coast to the east coast districts of Sandakan and Tawau.

It was scrapped by the Pakatan Harapan administration in 2018 before it was revived in 2021 by the Perikatan Nasional government.

Anifah also proposed that the government consider building a bridge connecting Sabah and Labuan.

“The bridge will provide easy access that can boost the tourism industry as the residents of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei can easily reach Labuan,” he said.