PAPAR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will launch a new work package for the Pan Borneo Highway next Saturday, 18 November.

The RM900 million project, dubbed Package 6, will feature a 19.1km stretch spanning from Kampung Ketiau in Putatan to Inanam.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said this during his working visit to the Papar-Donggongon highway project here today.

The Papar-Donggongon project, which was launched by Najib on May 2016, is scheduled for completion in September 2019. It is part of the larger Pan Borneo Highway project.

The 11.7km road, once completed, will stretch from Jalan Papar Spur here to Donggongon in Penampang. The road will also be upgraded into a two-lane dual carriageway.

It will also feature six U-turns and a new bridge to be built over Sungai Simpudu.

Fadhillah, however, said the project is 77 days behind the schedule due to a land acquisition issue.

"A total of 7 per cent of the site is encumbered by structures and we have engaged the Public Works Department and Sabah Land and Survey Department (to acquire the land) and expedite the construction."

Meanwhile, Borneo Highway Project Delivery Partner Sdn Bhd (BHP) chief executive officer and managing director Shahelmy Yahya said there are a total of 35 packages under the first phase of the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sabah.

He said Phase 1 of this toll-free mega project, which covers a total distance of 706km and costs RM12.86 billion, is scheduled to be fully completed by the end of 2021.

"Five packages have been awarded, two have been approved for launch by Finance Ministry including Package 6, and ten more will be tendered out by end of this year.

"The remaining 18 packages are expected to be tendered out next year" he said, adding that there are three phases in total.

Present were Deputy Works minister and Papar member of parliament Datuk Rosnah Shirlin, and Putatan member of parliament Datuk Marcus Mojigoh.