PAPAR: Construction of the Federal-funded RM70.6 million road upgrading project from Sabindo Roundabout to SMK Kinarut, near here, is now underway, following relentless efforts by Papar MP Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali with Sabah’s Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, for over five years, to address traffic congestion in the stretch and to better road connectivity in the district.
Amid various challenges of cancelled plans, budget cuts and bureaucratic hurdles, their persistent efforts and hardwork paid off when the project was approved and had its official ground-breaking ceremony by the Chief Minister near the stretch on July 28, witnessed by Federal Works Minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
The stretch was identified of having severe traffic congestion during peak hours, as complained by many motorists who regularly use the stretch for daily routines.
Armizan said he urged the contractor who was awarded the project to complete the vital development according to schedule as the people of Papar have waited long enough to enjoy smooth traffic flow.
He said those who commute from here to the State Capital should only need about 45 minutes to reach their destination at Kota Kinabalu, but many have to leave before dawn to avoid traffic congestion while some spending up to three hours from Papar town to Kota Kinabalu.
“The 1.5-kilometre project, is expected to ease congestion for more than 27,000 motorists who use the route daily and have long endured severe traffic jams on the main road linking Kinarut and Papar to Kota Kinabalu.
“Implementation of this project, which started in March this year and to be completed in 24 months, was the result of negotiations, formal appeals and continuous discussions between Sabah and Federal governments since 2021,” said Armizan.
He recounted how the project came about from original federal project covering Lok Kawi, Pengalat and Papar was shelved, forcing Sabah leaders to re-strategise.
“When Hajiji became Chief Minister in 2021, I served as his Senior Private Secretary. One of the first things we did was review the list of Federal development projects that had been cancelled or deferred so that we could propose them again.
“I remember this project was among our top five priorities, alongside Jalan Berungis in Tuaran. We all know that once a project is cancelled or postponed, construction costs continue to rise every year because of inflation.
“When we were informed that the Federal Government was prepared to reconsider the project, it was only willing to consider a new road alignment because it would cost less.
The upgrading of the existing road alignment from the Sabindo Roundabout to Kinarut Bridge, as no longer a priority of part of the plan.
“That was why I discussed the matter with Hajiji, who wrote to then Economy Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, appealing for part of the original project to be retained by upgrading the existing route from the Sabindo Roundabout to Sungai Kinarut,” he said.
Armizan who is also Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, said the effort continued with his meeting with Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and submitted a letter, appealing for this component to be included as part of the original project.
This was followed by another letter to then Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli on Jan 16, 2023, proposing that the project package be incorporated into the government’s development plans.
On May 19, 2023, Armizan said he also brought the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, to inspect the proposed site to highlight the urgent need to upgrade the existing road, which serves as a key route for Papar residents.
“On March 31, I again met Rafizi to appeal for this project package to be included. We had two options.
“One was to wait indefinitely for the original project (Sabindo road to Sungai Kinarut) to be reinstated in full. The other (Sabindo roundabout to SMK KInarut) was to proceed with the available budget by reducing the project’s scope. So, we decided to proceed with what was possible under the existing funding ceiling.
“That is why some people questioned on Facebook why the alignment was initially announced from the Sabindo Roundabout to Sungai Kinarut but was later shortened to SMK Kinarut. The answer is simple: construction costs had increased, so the scope had to be reduced,” he said.
He said the repeated appeals eventually paid off when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced on May 31, 2023, in Kinarut that the Federal Government had agreed to revive the previously cancelled project by dividing it into two components.
“The first component involves upgrading the road from the Sabindo Roundabout to SMK Kinarut, while the second covers the 13-kilometre stretch from Pengalat to Papar town,” he said.
Following the announcement, Armizan wrote to the Works Ministry’s Secretary-General on July 27, 2023, requesting that implementation to proceed immediately following the Prime Minister’s announcement.
On Aug 21, that year, he sent another letter to the Works Minister urging the Ministry to expedite the procurement process.
“On Nov 9, 2024, we received the official project briefing confirming the final alignment and approved budget.
Armizan said the political commitment is there and the funding had been secured. Therefore, he hoped the contractor would deliver the project within the stipulated timeframe.
