By BERNAMA

The government will be looking into the delay of the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway (PBH) in Sabah where funds have been channelled.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government will be investigating into where the huge amount of funds had gone to as it involved a major development, and the government is committed to continue the implementation of the highway even though it may be delayed from the target date.

He said apart from that, the government is also looking into ways for the highway to avoid crossing into Brunei so as to do away with the process of immigration and to smoothen movements between Sabah and Sarawak.

“The road into Brunei is already there…this is not a problem, but if possible, we want a smooth journey (without going into Brunei),” he told a media conference at Istana Qashr Munee, Bandar Seri Begwan, at the end of his two-day official visit to Brunei.

He said several other issues were also discussed briefly in the four-eye meeting between him and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday and they would be followed up by the relevant officials.

Earlier at a lecture in Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Dr Mahathir said the two main priorities of Malaysia now is to manage the finance of the country — especially on managing the country’s debt — and the question of the government machinery spoiled by the previous administration.

He said these are his major priorities now and the people have been told to be patient before seeing reforms by the Pakatan Harapan government.

On Brunei-Malaysia relation, Dr Mahathir said the two countries have much in common which could assist to strengthen cooperation in various fields together in Asean.

According to Dr Mahathir, differences in views would occur from time to time, but they were not long drawn and what is important is that the countries are able to work together looking forward. — Bernama