KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry has denied claims that late payments were the reason the Pan Borneo Highway project failed to meet its original construction schedule.
Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan said the delays were instead attributable to several factors, including contractors' performance on site and the termination of the project delivery partner agreement in 2019.
He said other factors affecting the project's implementation included weather conditions, land acquisition challenges, utility relocation issues, the Covid-19 pandemic and project governance.
He said the ministry had implemented and was continuing to implement various mitigation measures to ensure the mega project could be completed as scheduled.
