Miri-KK road gets federal allocation of RM513 mln

SIBU: The federal cabinet has approved an allocation of RM513 million to upgrade the road from Miri to Kota Kinabalu.Minister of Works Dato Shaziman Abu Mansor told reporters yesterday that to ease travel for Sarawakians and Sabahans, a new Miri-Kota Kinabalu route was surveyed in 2005.

“After that, we feel that upgrading of the existing 325-km route would be more economical and more practical,” he said, adding that it was part of the 10th Malaysia Plan.

He revealed that the upgrading work involved three routes in Sabah - Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort (95km), Beaufort to Sipitang (60km) and Sipitang to Sindumin (20km).

In Sarawak, the affected areas are Mengkalap to Merapok (60km), Pandaruan to Tendungan (60km) and Sungai Tujuh to Miri (30km).

He believed that the road would make travel convenient, save cost, and save time.
Besides that, it would also help to boost the development of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and Sabah Development Corridor (SDC).

The existing road from Miri to Kota Kinabalu is the main route and part of the trans-Borneo trunk road.
Shaziman said the road should be upgraded to create an efficient link between Sabah and Sarawak.
Furthermore, the project would also encourage and improved the business relationship between the two states and increase commodity production.

It would also attract more foreign investors, particularly from Brunei, to the states. The Works Ministry believes that the road would have a great impact on local residents and boost the development of the two states.

Shaziman said among the possible sectors that could be established along the 325km route are agriculture and tourism.