The investigation follows serious findings in the Auditor-General’s Report Series 2/2026. According to the report and PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, RM10.547 billion—94.6 per cent of the RM11.153 billion allocated—had been spent between 2016 and 31 March 2026, although only four of the 35 work packages had been completed. The project, originally expected to be completed by the end of 2021, has now been extended to 2030.
PBK welcomes this investigation because public funds must be spent responsibly, transparently and for the benefit of the people. Where there is evidence of wrongdoing, negligence, abuse of power or financial mismanagement, those responsible must be identified and brought to book. Justice must be seen to be done.
The findings are deeply concerning. The Auditor-General’s Report reportedly found that 57 variation orders worth RM513.99 million were approved beyond authorised limits without the required approval from the Treasury Secretary-General or the Works Ministry’s Procurement Board. The report also identified weaknesses in planning and implementation, including work packages that began before environmental impact assessment reports were approved.
This is not merely an administrative issue. It concerns public money, public safety and the right of citizens to receive the infrastructure they were promised.
The Pan Borneo Highway is meant to connect communities, improve safety, support commerce and open opportunities for ordinary people. Instead, the project has been delayed for far too long. The people have waited for years for safer and better roads, while costs have increased and completion dates have been pushed back.
PBK also calls for a thorough and independent review of the quality of the completed sections of the highway. Many road users have complained about uneven surfaces, cracks, potholes and poor workmanship. These defects are not merely inconvenient; they can be dangerous, particularly for motorcyclists, heavy-vehicle drivers and rural communities who depend on these roads every day.
The authorities must not treat road defects as minor issues. Every complaint about dangerous road conditions should be properly recorded, inspected and addressed. Where defects are caused by poor workmanship, inadequate supervision or failure to meet contractual standards, those responsible must be held accountable. The safety of road users must never be sacrificed for the convenience of contractors, consultants or officials.
The people deserve a highway that is completed on time, built to proper standards and safe to use. They also deserve assurance that public money has not been wasted through poor planning, weak supervision or improper approvals.
PBK supports any lawful investigation that seeks the truth, protects public funds and holds those responsible accountable. The Sabah Pan Borneo Highway must not become another example of a major public project that costs billions, takes years beyond its deadline, and leaves the people with dangerous roads and unanswered questions.
VOON LEE SHAN
Presiden,
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK)