New Sabah Times
30th December, 2009 LABUAN: The proposed bridge to connect Labuan and mainland Sabah may only be considered after a feasibility study carried out by University Malaysia of Sabah (UMS) said Federal Territory and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.
“I have not seen the study officially but we will have to look at the viability of the proposed project before we can include it in the 10th Malaysia Plan…and we do not know whether the people of Labuan will be in favour of the project,” he said after a government quarters opening ceremony in Kampung Bukit Kuda, here yesterday.
On whether the proposed project had been briefed to the Prime Minister, he said: “I have yet to propose anything to him on the project. And if the project is listed as priority by the government then we have no problem of including it in the 10th Malaysia Plan.”
It was reported that the feasibility study would cost the government a whopping RM5 million.
The proposed bridge from Tanjung Aru here to Membakut is expected to cost an estimated RM550 million.
The study would look into pros and cons of a bridge with an estimated length of 17km, as stated in the Labuan Development master plan that was drafted in 1997.
The Malaysian Malay Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Labuan Chamber of Commerce and Indian Chamber of Commerce have jointly issued a statement on the need to see the project materialize since it would stimulate economic activities for Labuan and Sabah.
Raja Nong Chik had early this year said that the main focus of the study was on the economic viability and benefit of the project to the people of Labuan and Sabah.
He had also said that a careful study of the proposed project was necessary as its implementation would require huge amount of funds.
Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who visited Labuan, was also reported to have said that he would ask the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to have another look at the proposed project that had been bandied since 1997.
Abdullah had also said that a bridge between Sabah and Labuan would be good for the island as it would spur more tourist arrivals, apart from easing the entry of raw materials from the mainland, for industries here.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said that such a bridge would spell a ‘win-win’ situation for the state and Labuan.
http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/34903