Fadillah: Road access, infrastructure projects remains top priority in S’wak, Sabah

MIRI (July 27): The Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project which has begun its first phase will transform northern Sarawak connectivity landscape, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah, who oversees matters pertaining to Sabah and Sarawak, said the federal government would continue to implement and complete the infrastructure projects in the state despite the challenges faced in the rural and remote areas.

According to him, the Pan Borneo Highway is now at 99 per cent completion, whereby the SSLR road project had just entered its first phase while the second and third phases of the project had already been awarded to the contractors.

“It is hoped that when the road is ready, it will facilitate the connection to the northern part.

“Now the focus is on how we connect villages and sub-districts so that they can be connected to the SSLR and also to the Pan Borneo Highway – this will be our next plan.”

“Our commitment is that whichever areas they might be, the plan will have to be expedited so that development can reach the people,” said Fadillah in his opening speech at the 17th Bario Nukunen Festival at Bario Highland today.

“It isn’t an easy task but God willing, we can do this together with the state government,” he remarked, citing geographical features in the northern region as part of the infrastructure barriers.

Meanwhile, touching on the road access to Ba Kelalan, Fadilah promised that he would bring up the matter to the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, to discuss ways to speed up the project.

Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said he had followed up on the infrastructure projects with the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.

“The projects that involve upgrading and repairs of roads have been estimated by JKR to cost RM536,000,” he said, adding that he would discuss with the relevant departments to increase the funding to RM540,000 due to possible increase in cost.

At the event, Fadillah pledged an allocation of RM50,000 to support the hosting of the Bario Nukunen Festival.

“The Kelabit community may be small in number, but they play a big role not only in Sarawak but also to the development of our country, so the festival is as important to the country as it is to the Kelabit community,” he said.