Sabah deputy chief says 11.4% figure understates true highway construction progress

At a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah gathering in Kudat, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam contested the 11.4% completion rate cited in the Auditor-General’s Report, saying it only reflects fully handed-over packages—four of the 35 in Phase 1. He emphasized that numerous other sections are already 90-93% built, with eight packages spanning 179 km expected to be opened to motorists in phases before 2026. Regarding the RM514 million variation order, Gunsalam said the approval lies with the federal Works Ministry and Finance Ministry, as the state Public Works Department (JKR) merely implements the work.

He attributed project delays to the termination of the previous delivery-partner model, the shift to a conventional method, COVID-19 impacts in 2021, late contractor appointments between February 2024 and January 2026, and a protracted land-acquisition process that allowed owners to appeal compensation. The deputy chief expressed confidence in the audit findings and highlighted cooperation between state and federal authorities.