KOTA KINABALU: Some 50 houses will have to be demolished to make way for the Pan Borneo Highway's Kinabatangan district stretch, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (pic).

       However, the state will be providing alternative plots of land to the affected homeowners to rebuild, subject to certain conditions, as well as the government's financial capabilities.

       Bung Moktar, who is state Works Minister, said residents should not build houses too close to the road and its reserves as it would make it difficult to widen and upgrade the facility in future.

       “Road reserves cannot be occupied. If this is understood, they should build a house a little farther from the road.

       "When a house is built beautifully, the cost (compensation) is not calculated according to the price of the house but according to the government's financial ability," he said on Thursday (Jan 6) while urging the people not to build houses on road reserves.

       The highway stretch through Kinabatangan involves three packages that connect Sandakan-Kinabatangan-Beluran and Telupid districts in the east coast of Sabah. The 58km stretch will cost RM877mil.

       In November, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob launched three packages of the highway project for the east coast of Sabah.

       Apart from the Pan Borneo stretch, Bung Moktar said, another road construction project was being implemented in Kinabatangan which connects Linayukan in Tongod (central Sabah) with Sinaron in interior Keningau.

       The 40km road was started last year at a cost of RM320mil, and is expected to be completed within three years.

       "This road network is expected to be a catalyst for the surrounding economy, and it can connect the Ranau, Kota Kinabalu, Kinabatangan and Pensiangan districts," Bung Moktar added.