{
  "id": 15617724,
  "title": "8 pakej Pan Borneo Sabah dibuka sebelum hujung tahun ini",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/8-pakej-pan-borneo-sabah-dibuka-sebelum-hujung-tahun-ini",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T14:44:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/10/19/8-pakej-pan-borneo-sabah-dibuka-sebelum-hujung-tahun-ini"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sabah's Pan Borneo Highway project, spanning 177km, will open progressively before the end of the year to allow citizens to benefit from it sooner, according to Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah. The opening of completed sections will proceed while construction continues in other areas. This decision comes following the National Audit Officer's 2026 Report 2, which raised concerns about the project in its October 5th findings.\n\nFocusing on resolving the issue, Dr Gunsalam emphasized that the people should be able to use better roads as soon as possible. Six 135.8km sections have already received the Certificate of Completion for Use (CPO), covering routes from Sindumin to Beaufort and Bongawan to Tebobon and Moynod to Sapi Nangoh. As of September 25th, four 41.5km sections were fully completed, including WP05 Papar to Donggongon, WP15 Tawau to Semporna, WP21 Lahad Datu Bypass, and WP27 Kampung Lot M to Sandakan Batu 32.\n\nDr Gunsalam stated that eight sections, totaling 161.8km, are expected to receive the Practical Certificate of Completion (CPC) in 2027, confirming the finalization of the entire construction work. He noted that the 11.4% progress reported by the National Audit Officer refers to four out of the 35 sections that were fully handed over by September 31st.\n\nPhysical progress on site as of September 25th reached 89.54% for Phase 1A, 38.87% for WP09, and 24.76% for Phase 1B. Infrastructure clearance status shows 99.79% for Phase 1A, 96.8% for WP09, and 79.43% for Phase 1B. Dr Gunsalam explained that delays were caused by changing the implementation model from a Project Delivery Partner (PDP) to a conventional method, which required new procurement and contract processes. The audit's criticism of the unauthorized RM513.99 million expenditure over the approval limit was acknowledged by Dr Gunsalam, and his office is committed to implementing a clear and timely improvement mechanism for such processes without compromising administrative integrity.",
  "summary": "Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sabah Dr Joachim Gunsalam berkata pembukaan seksyen yang siap akan dilaksanakan sementara kerja pembinaan di bahagian lain diteruskan.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "PAC siasat pengurusan, pelaksanaan Pan Borneo Sabah Fasa 1",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/pac-siasat-pengurusan-pelaksanaan-pan-borneo-sabah-fasa-1",
        "published": "2026-10-19T04:45:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "PAC to probe Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project following AG report's findings",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/pac-to-probe-sabah-pan-borneo-highway-project-following-ag-reports",
        "published": "2026-10-19T06:38:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "PAC launches probe into Sabah Pan Borneo Highway after audit reveals delays despite RM10.5b spent",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/pac-launches-probe-into-sabah-pan-borneo-highway-after-audit-reveals",
        "published": "2026-10-19T07:23:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}