KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry has stepped up intervention measures to address delays in the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah Phase 1 project, including monthly coordination meetings and on-site inspections involving federal and Sabah authorities.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said a project steering committee, or task force, was established in November 2024 to closely monitor progress and resolve issues affecting implementation.
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The task force, jointly chaired by the Works Ministry secretary-general and the Sabah Infrastructure Development Ministry permanent secretary, met twice in 2024, 11 times in 2025 and nine times so far this year.
Nanta said he had personally chaired two of the meetings.
“The ministry’s top management also conducts Turun Padang programmes to ensure site performance is not merely reported on paper or discussed at meeting tables,” he said during the winding-up debate on the Auditor-General’s Report 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat.
He said the visits were aimed at resolving problems on the ground quickly, particularly those involving the Sabah Land and Survey Department (JTU) and utility providers.
Since 2024, the Works Minister and secretary-general have conducted three such visits, while the deputy minister has conducted two. The secretary-general and project implementation team have also carried out six visits.
At the state level, JKR Sabah, JTU Sabah and relevant local authorities have been holding monthly coordination meetings to expedite the resolution of land acquisition issues.
Nanta said JTU Sabah had also instructed that work could begin on lots where offers had already been received, in accordance with state land management procedures, to minimise site availability issues.
He said the ministry had also introduced a special Pan Borneo Highway meeting chaired by the Sabah state secretary to coordinate issues involving state agencies.
Following a meeting between the Works Ministry secretary-general and the Sabah Chief Minister on Sept 4, the Chief Minister recommended that the project steering committee be jointly chaired by the Works Ministry secretary-general and the Sabah state secretary to strengthen coordination with state agencies.
“These efforts between the ministry and the Sabah Government have had a positive impact on the overall progress of the project,” he said.
