Sabah Pan Borneo 95pct complete, contractors given until year-end

KOTA KINABALU: Contractors managing three key work packages of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project along Putatan, Penampang, Inanam, Sepanggar, and Tuaran stretches have been ordered to finish their remaining construction works by the end of this year. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud emphasized the importance of completing these three packages, WP06, WP07, and WP08, as they would help alleviate traffic congestion around Kota Kinabalu and reduce bottlenecks on existing routes.

However, these packages are still under construction, with only a few sections left to complete. Mustapha personally requested contractors to finish the construction by the year-end. So far, 95 per cent of the work has been completed, and he urged monitoring the progress to ensure it is finished by the end of this year. The three packages are crucial components of the Kota Kinabalu Outer Ring Road, which aims to redirect some traffic away from the city center.

Mustapha acknowledged that all three packages were delayed and critical due to their urban location, which experiences frequent congestion. He explained that the congestion issue originated from the high concentration of traffic on existing roads, causing deterioration, particularly during rainy weather. The Public Works Department (PWD) and contractors have been instructed to ensure the road's safety for users.

Phase 1 of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project, which includes 35 work packages spanning 706km, has only 11.4 per cent of packages completed as of March 31, according to the Auditor-General's Report 2/2026. However, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and state Works and Utilities Minister Dr Joachim Gunsalam reported physical progress under Phase 1A at 89.54 per cent as of September 25, compared to the projected 96.23 per cent.