Why not allocate budget for Sandakan-Ranau road, Poon asks federal govt

6 Nov 2021 By Wartawan Nabalu News KOTA KINABALU: The launching of the Pan Borneo packages today have Sabah DAP acting chief Datuk Frankie Poon wondered why the Federal Government does not allocate a budget for the Sandakan to Ranau road from Mile 15 to Mile 32. He said the road only stretches for 17 miles but it has been left incomplete for so many years. "This is a mere 17 miles of road. Why is the Federal Government not providing a budget to help complete the road for so many years?" he said in a statement today. However, he welcomed the launching of the new four work packages of the Pan Borneo Highway connecting Kinabatangan to Telupid. The Tanjong Papat Assemblyman also hoped that the much-needed highway, although not all the way to Kota Kinabalu, can be completed by early 2024 or earlier. "It will be a relief to many road users from the East Coast between Telupid and Kinabatangan, be it private car owners or commercial vehicles, once the construction is completed. "I also hope that this new Highway will come with good lighting and will allocate plenty of space for people to rest and have some refreshments," he added. Poon also stated that the new highway will certainly help boost the tourism industry in the area with commuters able to reach their destinations in the shortest possible time. "I believe that this new Pan Borneo Highway will help to spur up the economy a bit on the east coast. If the Pan Borneo Highway between Telupid and Kota Kinabalu is also completed, this will certainly boost up the overall economic development of Sabah," he asserted.