Gov't still undecided on bridge for Labuan

The government is still studying the viability of building a bridge linking Labuan to the mainland of Sabah, despite repeated requests from various quarters.

Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan said the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) responsible for the study had yet to come to a decision on the matter.

“It is still being studied thoroughly by EPU, the relevant central agencies and the Finance Ministry. We are still unable to give our commitment.

“Constant urgings from two leaders - a member of parliament and a senator - for a bridge to be built have been heard in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara. We do understand the requests and the need and we are seriously looking at it but unable to give our commitment as of now,” he told Bernama yesterday.

Ahmad Maslan said Labuan was considered as ‘the pearl of the east’ of Malaysia with its niche market and potential of being not only as a hub for oil and gas but also as an international financial centre.

Asked whether the millions in tax collected yearly from oil and gas companies like Petronas, Shell and Murphy could help fund the building of the bridge, Ahmad said if there were sufficient funds, the requests would be more realistic but the final decision would come from Putrajaya.

- Bernama