KOTA KINABALU: The prime minister will leave it to the Public Works Department (PWD) to decide whether Sabah should manage the Pan Borneo Highway project in the state.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said it was the job of PWD to monitor the highway construction.
“We (the government) have incurred extra expenditure by having outside people supervise. This is the PWD’s job.
“So, the PWD is taking back that role, at least in the case of Sabah... it’s up to PWD to determine who will be the authority,” he said after attending a breaking of fast event at Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu.
Dr Mahathir was responding to a question on whether the state PWD was taking over the management of the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sabah.
On slow federal development projects, he said Sabah was not the only state experiencing slow funding.
This, he said, included funding for the People’s Housing Project, where tenants were offered rent-to-own deals.
“The problem is we have a lot of obstacles due to the previous government.
“Most importantly is we don’t have the money.
“So, we have to let the private sector handle things, but we must ensure the private sector is genuine,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Mahathir broke fast with state leaders and the local community.
He arrived in the state with his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, and proceeded to Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu at 6.20pm.
They were accompanied by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and wife Datin Seri Shuryani Shuaib.