KUCHING: The Federal Government should seriously consider building a Trans-Borneo Railway to accelerate development and provide alternative public transport for Sarawak and Sabah, says a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) backbencher.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Datuk Lo Khere Chiang said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had been pushing for the proposal to go through and Transport Minister Anthony Loke had agreed to a feasibility study.
"However, we would like to emphasise the need for prompt and tangible action, not just carrying out years of feasibility studies which could be flushed down the drain any time there is a change of government," he said when debating the budget speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (Nov 22).
Lo said it was high time for the Federal Government to recognise the need for a Trans-Borneo Railway linking Sabah and Sarawak to Brunei and Indonesia as both states were lagging behind Peninsular Malaysia in road and rail transportation.
"The railway project is of utmost importance to boost Sarawak's economy. Indonesia is already improving its railway system in Kalimantan and if Sarawak is not doing it, we stand to lose a great deal," he said.
Besides connecting cities across Borneo, Lo said the railway could also provide access to the interior for mining operations and transportation of raw materials.
He said this would speed up the development of rural areas of Sarawak and Sabah.
"The Federal Government cannot give lame excuses such as low population density in Sarawak and Sabah and non-profitability and try to shelve the proposal based on these excuses.
"Implementing public transport such as the one and only railway network in Sarawak should not be considered for profit but as an investment by the Federal Government to improve the region's wider economy," he said.
Lo also said the railway was estimated to cost RM63.3bil, less than the RM110bil estimated for the proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail project.
"Because Sarawak contributes RM80bil annually to the national coffers, the KL-Singapore railway project should be set aside for now to ensure that the Trans-Borneo Railway takes precedence," he added.
