Pan Borneo Highway to drive economic growth, says activist

KUCHING: A social activist said he believes the Pan Borneo Highway is long overdue and should have been constructed much earlier, even during the administration of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the fourth prime minister.
Wan Zain Syed Mohdzar said no one could deny the benefit of the highway in driving the economic development of the people along its 2,083km alignment.
He said that besides serving as the main land route connecting Sabah and Sarawak, it could be fed by feeder roads from the villages and longhouses in the interior in line with the inclusive policy of the government agenda.
"These feeder roads will help to spur the economic activities of the rural people," he said to Bernama.
The highway, to be built at a cost of RM29 billion, runs from the Teluk Melano in the south-west of Sarawak, close to the Indonesian border, to the north-east through the major towns of Sarawak, goes across Brunei Darussalam, and ends in the town of Serudong in Sabah.
Although talk of such a highway has been around for decades, the breath of fresh air came from the Barisan Nasional government which had development as a major point in its manifesto for the 13th General Election in 2013.
And, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak emphasised that a pledge of the BN government would definitely be fulfilled.
Wan Zain said the Pan Borneo Highway would alter the landscape of the areas along its alignment, providing the avenue for the sprouting of commercial centres, factories and tourist attractions, and become the game changer for development in Sarawak as Najib had said it would.
Tasik Biru state assemblyman Datuk Harry Henry Jinep said the mega project was important because it created an efficient communication system in Sabah and Sarawak, in line with the government commitment to bring progress to the people in the two states.
The highway project would also provide employment opportunities for the local people in various sectors, he said.
Work is underway on the construction of the highway in the two states, and it is expected to be completed by 2023 according to schedule.
Harry said the highway would open access to many areas and boost mobility while enhancing the economic sectors such as construction and tourism.
"It also has the capacity to enhance integration in cross-border trade with neighbouring countries such as Brunei and Indonesia (Kalimantan)," he said.
Harry said the highway was proof of the capability of the government in fulfilling its pledge to the people of Sabah and Sarawak, particularly in the context of development that would bring long-term socio-economic benefits. — Bernama