Kuala Lumpur: The Works Ministry will work with the Irrigation and Drainage Department to determine if floods in Sabah were caused by the Pan Borneo Highway project.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said flooding issues came under the department’s jurisdiction.
“We will contact the department to conduct a joint study to determine if the floods (in Sabah) are due to the Pan Borneo Highway project.
“It was claimed that floods (often) occur due to the Pan Borneo Highway (construction) and if it is true, what are the steps we should take to solve the problem?
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He said the design of the Pan Borneo Highway had taken into account the terrain, drainage system and rainfall distribution in the right of way of federal roads.
He also said flood simulations had been conducted in high-risk areas, with results showing the highway construction did not significantly affect nearby areas.
Nanta also said the pre-qualification process for the implementation of each phase of the ongoing Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project was deemed vital to help the Ministry select the best contractors for the project.
In fact, he said the process is also important to prevent the tendering process from being too open to the extent of enabling irresponsible companies or tenderers to take advantage.
“We have experienced that without the pre-qualification process. There will be manipulation where companies that are not capable, not qualified, enter tenders and make fake bidding. So we have a problem choosing who should get it.
“I’m sure this process helps us choose the best (contractor), and we have high hopes on that as we don’t want to repeat the mistakes of appointing contractors who are incapable and unqualified,” he said.
Nanta said this in reply to Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna) who wanted to know whether the Ministry was willing to review the selection or appointment of contractors for the project through the pre-qualification process and open tender.
In addition, Nanta said the selection of contractors for each phase or package for the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Project will also be scrutinised by the Ministry of Finance to ensure that only qualified companies are appointed.
About the land acquisition process and compensation assessment for the project, the Minister said the estimated cost of land acquisition for the entire Phase 1B of the project is RM1.2 billion to date.
“The distribution of allocations, compensation payments and gazettement of the land are being actively done especially on the Serusop to Simpang Mengayau line.
The Ministry is committed to ensuring that this project is carried out according to the plan to improve the federal road infrastructure network in Sabah,” he said.
Nanta said out of a total of 35 work packages for Phase 1 of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Project, four have been completed and opened for road users, while the remaining 15 packages are at the construction stage and another 16 packages are at the procurement stage.
“The Letter of Acceptance to the successful contractor for all 16 work packages in procurement is scheduled to be issued in the third quarter of 2024,” he added.
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