RM910M HIGHWAY PROJECT IN STAGES

THE ISSUE of the Kota Marudu-Marak-Parak-Melinsau-Poring-Ranau high impact road project, which has stopped construction halfway since November last year, was raised in the Dewan Rakyat recently.

Ranau MP Datuk Siringan Gubat, who raised the issue, requested Work Minister Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor to explain the matter and its current status, apart from asking the Ministry to speed up its implementation for the sake of the rakyat.

The Ministry, in its written reply later, said the implementation of the project was actually divided into three main packages, namely package 1, 2 and 3, and the package 3 was divided into two sub-packages of 3A and 3B.

The overall project cost of RM910 million had been approved, it said, adding its implementation started during the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) and continued into the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP) period.

It said the project was to be implemented in phases and approval for allocation received by the Ministry from the Central Agency thus far are only for the Package 1, 2 and Sub-Package 3A.

According to the Ministry, the Work Ministry has divided the Sub-Package 3A (Togop-Poring) that involves 25 kilometres into four segments, namely 3A(1), 3A(2), 3A(3) and 3A(4).

It said the segment 3A(1) involved a four-kilometre long new road, construction of which had been completed in September 2009.

The segment 3A(3) involved a five-kilometre long granite stone road construction that was completed in December 2010, while for the other segments 3A(2) and 3A(4), the approval for their allocations had just been approved under the 10MP second rolling plan.

Both these segments are estimated to cost RM117 million and would be implemented by Perwira Progresif Sdn Bhd, it said, adding that according to the layout, the physical project implemented is expected to start in the middle of this year by the latest and expected to be completed in within 24 months.

The Sub-Package 3B that would involve a 25-kilometre long road construction from Togop to Melinsau is yet to start, although the design work has already completed because allocation for the purpose has not been provided by the Economic Planning Unit under the Prime Minister's Department.

Nevertheless, the Ministry assured that it will discuss and re-apply with the Central Agency for an approval of allocation under the 10MP third rolling plan.

Siringan, meanwhile, requested the Work Minister during their meeting on March 29 to do repairing on certain sections of the completed road, which had damages on its surface, as it was not maintained properly.

These damaged road surfaces are causing problems to the people, particularly those commuting the road daily and because of this they are angry with the Government, he said.

According to him, Shaziman had agreed to this and that he (Siringan) would be reporting back to him on the repair work progress. (DE)