THE RM1bil allocated to expedite the border development in Sabah and Sarawak have been channelled, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat.
He said this includes the construction of the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine Complex (ICQS) and security posts in Sabah and Sarawak.
Anwar added that the construction of all 17 projects for the border development purpose – eight in Sabah (RM82.2mil) and nine in Sarawak (RM88.2mil) – have already begun.
“Actually the projects for the RM1bil have started.
“The allocation was approved this year and the work has already begun.
“I agree that we are a little behind due to some delay previously. After we considered how fast Indonesia is in its border development (in Kalimantan), we are a little behind.
“Because of that, we have asked for (the border development projects) to be fast-tracked.
“I want to highlight here that the RM1bil is for 2023, which means the relevant ministries were asked to expedite (the projects),” he said in the Lower House here yesterday.
Anwar said this in response to Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (GRS-Keningau), who asked for an explanation on claims that the RM1bil allocation has yet to be channelled in full, adding that the delay is causing Malaysia to be left behind in the border development in Borneo.
