PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build the Pan Borneo Sarawak highway between the Sarawak state government and Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd in Putrajaya, today.
The 2,239 kilometre project announced by Najib during the Budget 2014, is aimed at connecting major cities in Sabah and Sarawak.
Pan Borneo highway will be built at a cost of RM27 billion, involving the construction and upgrading of 1,663km of road in Sarawak and Sabah, with 936km in Sarawak and 727km in Sabah.
Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Seri Adenan Satem said the Pan Borneo would benefit Sarawak and Sabah as how the North South Highway did for the Peninsula.
"The highway will not only help communication but also open up economic opportunities and activities while enhancing the future of our development.
"We are grateful to the Federal Government for building this highway," he said at the MoU signing ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office, here, today.
It was reported, the construction officially kicked off in Sarawak, with the first phase of 43km from Jalan Nyabau to Simpang Jalan Bakun expected to be completed at the end of 2017, followed by the Tanjung Datu-Sematan-Miri-Limbang-Lawas stretch expected to be ready in the middle of 2023.