Photo: Bernama.
Plans for a high-speed rail network linking Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan are edging forward, with a feasibility study expected to wrap up by the third quarter of 2026.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said a local consultant began work in June this year, tasked with a 12-month study covering the Malaysian stretch of the proposed Trans-Borneo Railway.
The review, according to him, won’t just look at engineering. It will weigh commercial prospects, socio-economic impact, governance, and community benefits. “It’s not just about building tracks. The study will outline a strategic plan, action steps, and an implementation timeline, while ensuring all stakeholders are on board,” Loke told Parliament in a written reply to Sandakan MP Vivian Wong.
The study, funded with RM7 million from the federal government under the 12th Malaysia Plan, follows an idea first pitched in 2015 by former prime minister Najib Razak to then Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
The project gained attention again last year when Brunei-based Brunergy Utama Sdn Bhd claimed it would take on the US\$70 billion (RM330 billion) venture, promising 1,600km of track and trains reaching 350km/h. Loke was quick to shut down the claim, stressing the government has yet to appoint any developer.
“Mega projects are only official when announced by the government,” he said.
