KUALA LUMPUR: Road development at the Sarawak-Kalimantan border is currently focused on access roads for entry and exit to Kalimantan, said Deputy Minister of Economy Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib.
She said the government is prioritising infrastructure development that facilitates border access.
“If we were to follow through with constructing roads along the border, we would need to fully assess the situation because the geography of Sarawak, with its hills, mountains, and rivers, presents challenges,” she said.
Hanifah was responding to a question from Saratok MP Datuk Ali Biju during the Dewan Rakyat session here today.
In response to a question from Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem (GPS-Serian) about the use of the RM1 billion allocation announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for upgrading the Malaysia-Indonesia border areas in Sarawak, Hanifah said that under the Fifth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), 37 new border development projects in Sarawak have been approved for next year, with a total cost of RM622.02 million.
“A total of 17 border development projects in Sarawak have been approved, with a cost of RM883.7 million.
“These projects are being carried out by the Ministry of Rural Development (KKDW), the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN), the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), and the Ministry of Public Works (KKR),” she said.
Among the ongoing projects are the construction of the Nanga Mujong to Tunoh road in Bukit Mabong, Kapit Division, and the construction of six new border posts at Kandei 2, Tong Nibong, Melikin, Nanga San, Ensawang, and Pa’daleh.
Additionally, upgrades to posts and premises, as well as the procurement of equipment for the Sarawak Brigade, are being carried out under this allocation.
“As of November 29, 2024, three border development projects under KDN, costing RM7.6 million, have been completed.
“All four projects under MINDEF, with a total cost of RM47.6 million, are expected to be fully completed by the end of this year, while 10 other projects are still in progress.
“These include 27 projects under KDN, 9 under MINDEF, and 1 under the National Security Council,” she said.
Hanifah also mentioned that the Immigration, Customs, and Quarantine Complex (ICQS) Tebedu, with an allocation of RM100 million, is still in the design stage and has not yet started.
