MIRI: NEW checkpoints for immigration and custom clearance will be identified to facilitate smoother travel between Miri and Limbang divisions once the Pan-Borneo Highway has been upgraded.

Similar new checkpoints will be earmarked somewhere near Lawas for the new highway route, chief secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa said during his visit to the Miri-Brunei border last Thursday.

He told the immigration officers at Sungai Tujuh checkpoint that the Brunei government had been informed of the checkpoint proposal.

“We are working with Brunei to identify those areas for the new checkpoints.

“These new points will be needed once the Pan-Borneo Highway is upgraded between Miri and Limbang and Lawas to Sabah.

“The new checkpoints will allow smoother cross-border travel,” he said.

The present checkpoint between Miri and Brunei is at Sungai Tujuh while the Brunei to Limbang checkpoint is at Sungai Pandaruan. These two checkpoints are connected to Miri and Limbang only by the Pan-Borneo trunk road.

Ali said that under the Pan-Borneo road upgrade, a new route was being planned to connect Miri to Limbang and Lawas.

But I remember very clearly that during my last official visit to Brunei last year, a top government official said no new road would be built from Miri to Limbang by-passing Brunei, as the project was too costly.

I also remembered a VVIP from Sarawak saying that the Government had no plans to build a new highway or a trunk road between Miri and Limbang due to the cost factor.

Since another government official had just announced the proposed the road project again, I would like to update the younger generation that there had been announcements, plans and negotiations on this project since many many years ago. At least, for the past three periods of the Malaysia Plan.

It remains to be seen what the actual plan is this time. If the Government is really committed to realising it, then it will be a truly good news for all Sarawakians.

First, we are able to resolve a longstanding issue and tremendous frustration.

Second, a new highway linking Miri directly to Limbang not only helps us save time but also “foreign-toll” money.