PETALING JAYA: The proposed Trans-Borneo Railway’s main alignment will traverse key population centres, industrial zones and major seaports in Sarawak, the state assembly heard today.
State deputy transport minister Jerip Susil said the recommended route would run through Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri before entering Brunei and re-entering Sarawak through Limbang.
Jerip said the study found the federal government's regional megaproject technically feasible and strategically significant.
It also recommended connectivity to key economic gateways, including Kuching Port, Tanjung Manis Port, Bintulu Port, Samalaju Port and Miri Port.
“The proposed network is intended to strengthen connectivity between major population centres, industrial areas, ports, airports and logistics nodes across Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia,” Bernama quoted him as saying in the state assembly.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Lo Khere Chiang (GPS-Batu Kitang) on the proposed railway route and the feasibility study's findings.
He said the feasibility study outlined potential rail links into Kalimantan but recommended phased implementation, given the scale of the cross-border network, to ensure practical execution and financial viability.
“Priority corridors will be identified based on local demand, strategic importance, economic development impact, affordability, fiscal capacity, development readiness, land and right-of-way conditions and funding availability,” he said.
The federal transport ministry completed the study on Aug 7 and presented its findings to the steering committee.
Jerip said the federal government is evaluating the final report, focusing on funding responsibilities, project governance, land requirements and the appropriate implementation framework.