RM17b for Sabah roads

Musa presenting a souvenir to Mohd Zin (third from right) during a courtesy call at Sri Gaya yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU: The federal government has allocated some RM17 billion to pave all roads within 30km radius of towns in Sabah by the year 2015.

Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said the huge allocation was in line with the government’s vision and commitment to boost the state’s infrastructure development.

“We are aware that there are still many roads which have not been upgraded or paved in Sabah and there are also places in the rural areas which have no roads at all.

“We hope to complete the project by 2015 or at the latest by 2017,” he told reporters after a briefing on the state’s infrastructure development here.

Mohd Zin said Sabah had 15,756km of roads of which 5,686km are paved roads and 9,635km gravel roads. The rest are laterite roads.

He said the federal government was also looking into the state government’s application to pave a 150km road connecting Sapulut in Pensiangan and Kalabakan in Tawau with an estimated cost of RM100 million.

Mohd Zin also asked the state’s Public Works Department to list down priority road projects to facilitate the channelling of funds.

On infrastructure developments in Pensiangan, a district in the state’s interior, he said the federal government would continue to provide basic amenities there, particularly roads, for the benefit of the people.

Mohd Zin also said that he would be visiting the Pensiangan parliamentary constituency today to see for himself the situation in the area.

The Minister also met with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman at Sri Gaya. Also present was State Infrastructure Development Minister Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.

23rd November, 2008 - New Sabah Times