Friday, December 29, 2000

Mega Projects In Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno Wanita chief Datuk Dayang Mahani Tun Ahmad Raffae said what was once a dream in terms of development 37 years ago had now become a reality, and the people could expect more.
She pointed out there was no denying that tremendous development had been taking place in the State through the Barisan Nasional.

"We must take note that a lot of projects has been taking place in the State since the Barisan Nasional assumed control of the State Government," she told reporters paying her a Hari Raya Aidifitri visit at her residence in Luyang, near here, Wednesday.

These included revival of abandoned or delayed projects, as well as undertaking mega projects that the previous ruling party dared not implement while in confrontation with the Federal Government.

Another contributing factor was the entry of Umno into Sabah to stabilise the political situation in the State, and enhance mutual cooperation and understanding with the Federal government.

Mahani, who also heads the Sabah Affairs Bureau, said the people had to accept the fact that they were currently enjoying the benefits of the State being in the mainstream of national development.

Citing an example, she said travellers could never have imagined travelling to Kota Belud in less than an hour through one of the best roads in the country as they were experiencing now, as well as the coastal by-pass from the city to Tuaran via Sepangar.

Also, the 30-year wait for the completion of Beaufort-Sipitang and Beaufort-Kuala Penyu worth a total of RM300 million was now over, thus completing the Sabah side of the Pan-Borneo highway linking Brunei and Sarawak via Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuching.

Within six years since 1994, the road network throughout the whole state had been greatly enhanced through the upgrading of existing roads and construction of new ones under the 8th Malaysia Plan beginning next year, she added.

These included:
* Nabawan-Sapulut (RM130 million)
* Keningau-Nabawan (RM97 million)
* Beaufort-Tenom (RM400 million)
* Merotai-Kalabakan (RM80 million)
* Tawau Town-Airport (RM88 million)
* Kunak-Semporna coastal road - 45 km (RM90 million)
* Labuk-Sandakan (RM23 million)
* Sandakan-Sibuga by-pass (RM50 million)
* Kota Belud-Ranau by-pass
* Kalabakan-Sapulut-189km (RM400 million)