Latest news with #PanglimaMadiusTangau
Borneo Post
30-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Reconstruction of Tuaran–Sungai Damit Bridge to begin in September
Construction of the Tuaran–Sungai Damit Bridge to begin in September. KOTA KINABALU (July 30): The long-awaited reconstruction of the Tuaran–Sungai Damit Bridge in Sabah is set to commence in early September 2025, following its approval under Rolling Plan 5 of the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMKe-12). In a written reply to Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Madius Tangau during the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Tuesday, the Ministry of Economy confirmed that the RM30 million project will be managed by the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA), with the Sabah Public Works Department (JKR) serving as the implementing agency. 'The project is currently in the final stages of contractor appointment, expected to be finalised by August 2025,' the ministry stated. 'Construction will take 18 months, with completion expected by March 2027.' Madius had requested an update on the bridge project's status, including its projected start and completion timelines. The ministry noted that the bridge project was initially approved on 24 March 2017 under Rolling Plan 2 of the 11th Malaysia Plan (RMKe-11). However, studies later revealed that the original structure was unsafe, leading to a plan for demolition and reconstruction. In September 2022, the Task Force Damit Committee recommended building a new bridge at the same site, citing value for money, structural integrity, and user safety. The original bridge's construction began on 20 April 2018 and was slated for completion by 19 October 2019, but the structure is now fully closed to all vehicles due to safety concerns.
Borneo Post
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Madius urges swift action on Sabah native land surveying
Madius speaking in the Dewan Rakyat. KOTA KINABALU (July 30): Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Madius Tangau voiced concerns over the slow implementation of the Sabah Native Land Services Management Programme (PANTAS), highlighting that only RM68 million of the RM100 million allocated under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMKe-12) has been utilised. During a recent oral question session in the Dewan Rakyat, Madius questioned the Prime Minister on the limited disbursement, despite thousands of village lands across Sabah remaining un-surveyed. He also asked whether surveying work had been completed and whether the government recognised the urgent need for native Sabahans to secure ownership of their customary land. In response, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, clarified that as of June 2025, RM70.67 million had been disbursed under the Special Native Programme (PKAN) Sabah. This has covered 69,442 hectares of land and benefited 38,126 recipients. She explained that the disbursement of funds is performance-based, depending on the capacity of implementing agencies, rather than the total allocation ceiling. She also noted that the surveying of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land would continue in phases, and reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring rightful land ownership. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Madius emphasised that many villagers — particularly in rural areas like Tuaran — still do not hold land titles despite having lived on their land for generations. 'I urge the government to expedite the implementation of land surveying under PANTAS and to enhance the performance of the implementing agencies,' he said. While welcoming the plan to extend the programme under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13), Madius stressed the need for immediate improvements to prevent further delays and uncertainty that could adversely affect rural communities.
