KUCHING: Sarawak is set to make history with the construction of its first-ever road tunnel as part of the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project, said Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof.
Fadillah said that the first phase of SSLR is proceeding smoothly, while phase two has already been launched with a groundbreaking ceremony officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“What’s exciting is that this project will include the first tunnel in Sarawak.
“This means the road will pass through a tunnel, which is a major engineering feat considering the hilly terrain in the area,” he told reporters during a press conference in conjunction with Malaysia MADANI Budget 2026 at a hotel here today.
According to Fadillah, the tunnel is being built in the Limbang area of northern Sarawak, and explained that the tunnel will allow for a shorter, more environmentally friendly route.
“To avoid cutting through hills and to reduce the distance from 14 or 20 kilometres down to just around seven kilometres, we are using a tunnel.
“This not only shortens the travel distance but also helps preserve the environment,” he said.
He added that Chinese tunnelling technology is being used in the construction process, but did not provide detailed specifications or the exact location.
He said the entire SSLR project is expected to cost approximately RM6 billion and designed as a single-lane road.
“This tunnel is a major milestone and a symbol of the kind of infrastructure we are now capable of building in Sarawak,” Fadillah added.
The SSLR 2 has been officially launched in September spanning 335 kilometres across Miri, Limbang, Lawas and Ba Kelalan.
The construction will be implemented in packages to ensure quality and adherence to timelines.
The project is a continuation of SSLR 1 project in Lawas, which began in 2021 and had achieved 57.6 per cent progress as of July 2025.
