07-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Sabah proposes two new road links to Kalimantan
KOTA KINABALU: Two new road links between Sabah and Kalimantan have been proposed to enhance connectivity between the state and Indonesia, in light of the upcoming relocation of Indonesia's capital to Nusantara.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said one new alignment to the Kalimantan border is currently under construction in Kalabakan, while another in Pensiangan is still in the procurement stage.
He said the project to construct a new road from Kalabakan to the Malaysia–Malaysia-Indonesia border is underway, covering a 28-kilometre stretch.
"This alignment includes the construction of a new road connecting the existing Sapulut–Kalabakan Road to the Malaysia–Indonesia border, covering 28km, and a spur road to Kampung Serudong Laut, spanning 20km.
"The Federal Government, via the Works Ministry, has approved the preliminary study and design for this project under the Rolling Plan 3 of the 12th Malaysia Plan (RP3 RMK-12).
"At present, field works such as land surveying, utility mapping, and soil investigation are actively being carried out to gather data and information needed to complete the project study and design," he said during the Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (GRS – Sindumin) on the status of new road construction projects connecting Sabah with Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Shahelmey, who is also the Sabah Works Minister, said another project is a proposed road leading to the Bantul border in Pensiangan.
The project has already been approved under RP3 RMK-12, as part of the rural road programme funded by the Federal Government through the Rural and Regional Development Ministry. It is currently in the procurement stage.
In response to a supplementary question by Yusof on other potential routes along the Sabah–Kalimantan border, particularly in Sipitang, Shahelmey said only the two proposed alignments are set to be implemented for now.
He added that currently, there are no proposals for a road linking Long Pasia in Sipitang to North Kalimantan, due to the considerable distance of the border from the main road networks.
"For the proposed route on the southwest coast, compared to the Kalabakan–Sapulut–Simanggaris Road, that alignment is meant for connectivity. But for Long Pasia, the border is quite far, it would be more feasible to connect Ba' Kelalan in Sarawak to Lun Bawang in North Kalimantan.
"This could be included under the proposed Sabah–Sarawak Link Road, which is currently being implemented in Sarawak," he said.
