Connect main Sabah centres by rail: NGO
Published on: Monday, April 01, 2024
By: Wu Vui Tek
Liaw emphasised that the railroad would not only alleviate pressure on the highway but also promote tourism development in Sandakan, Lahad Datu, and Tawau, especially with rising airfares hindering the tourism industry. - Pic right for illustration only.
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) urged the Federal Government to consider constructing a regular Trans Sabah railroad connecting the major towns in the State.
Its Chairman, Dato’ Seri Winston Liaw, proposed that the railroad be moderate in speed, at 150km per hour, linking Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Tawau for tourism and logistic transport purposes.
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“With heavy trucks on the Pan Borneo Highway, there’s a risk of damaging the highway soon due to overloading,” he noted.
Liaw emphasised that the railroad would not only alleviate pressure on the highway but also promote tourism development in Sandakan, Lahad Datu, and Tawau, especially with rising airfares hindering the tourism industry.
He expressed support for the proposed Trans Borneo Railway project, which aims to link Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan, calling it a significant development for the Borneo region.
Satta had previously advocated for a railroad covering Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Sandakan and Tawau, but the proposal was rejected.
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Liaw welcomed the new proposal to link Kota Kinabalu to Brunei, Kuching, and Pontianak, considering it a positive move.
The proposed railroad, Liaw believes, will stimulate and boost tourism within Borneo Island, attracting more foreign tourists and doubling or even tripling the existing numbers.
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Federal Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi confirmed that the Transport Ministry is considering the preliminary proposal, with funds allocated for a feasibility study for the Sarawak-Sabah side.
Brunei-based Brunergy Utama Sdn Bhd has announced its intention to undertake the Trans Borneo Railway project in two phases, spanning a total of 1,620km.
The first phase will connect cities from the West to the East coast, starting in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, and ending in Kota Kinabalu, while the second phase will involve North and East Kalimantan, connecting the main route with Samarinda and the new capital of Indonesia, Nusantara.
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