Treasury Instructions need amending first before Sarawak and Sabah can implement projects themselves, says works minister
KUCHING, Jan 5 — Federal Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi today said the Treasury Instructions (AP 182), requiring non-technical departments to obtain the services of the federal Public Works Department (PWD) and the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), will have to be amended.
This is to enable the Public Works Departments (PWDs) of Sarawak and Sabah to freely implement the federal-funded projects worth up to RM50 million.
“The Works Ministry is also of a view that there should be a set of guidelines to be prepared together with the central agency to determine the details regarding the jurisdiction, roles and responsibilities of parties involved in the implementation of projects in the two states,” Nanta said in a statement.
Nanta welcomed the decision of the federal government announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday to empower the PWDs of Sarawak and Sabah to manage federal projects up to RM50 million.
He said the federal government has also recognised the PWDs of the two Borneo states as technical departments.
On the implementation status of the Pan Borneo Highway project, he said phase one of the Sarawak section is expected to be completed by the end of this year, except for package 11 (Lambir and Beluru in Bintulu Division) which is expected to be completed in 2024.
He said the Sabah section of the highway is expected to be fully completed at the end of 2025.
He added the physical progress of the Sarawak section has reached 91 per cent and the Sabah stretch, 73 per cent.
Nanta said phase two of the Sarawak section involving the Miri-Limbang-Lawas route, phase two of the Sarawak Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project and phase 1B of the Sabah section of the Pan Borneo Highway project are estimated to cost RM26.2 billion.
“All these new projects have obtained approval in principle from the federal Cabinet in April 2022,” he said, adding that physical construction is expected to begin in 2024 after the allocations have been received from the central agency.
