Willie rubbishes opposition's claims that the cancellation of three major bridge projects was to make way for SSLR project

KUCHING, July 11 2026: Puncak Borneo Member of Parliament (MP) Willie Mongin today dismissed claims the cancellation of the Batang Lupar Bridge, Kuala Igan Bridge and Rambungan Bridge projects in 2018 was made to make way for the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project

Caption: Puncak Borneo MP Willie says PH federal government called about 400 projects

He said the claims are inaccurate, misleading and not in line with the chronology, official government records and Parliament's Hansard.

“The fact is, after taking over the administration of the federal government in 2018, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has announced the review and cancellation of hundreds of development projects on the grounds of financial constraints.

“ On  October 5 2018, the media reported that around 400 government projects had been cancelled through an official statement from the Ministry of Finance, including projects with less than 15 percent progress, projects that have been approved but not yet tendered and projects that have been tendered but not yet started.

“Among the affected projects are three bridge projects in Sarawak,” he said in a statement expressing support to Premier Abang Johari Openg’s contention that the three bridges were cancelled by the PH government, not suspended as alleged by the opposition Sarawak DAP.

Willie said the then Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had previously explained that several mega projects across the country had to be cancelled or restructured due to the country's financial position after taking over the administration. This was the then government's official stance on the rationale for reviewing the projects.

“The claims that the cancellation of the three bridge projects was made to make way for the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) Project is baseless and contradicts the facts.

“The three bridge projects were cancelled by the PH government in 2018. On the contrary, the SSLR Phase 1 Project had already started the procurement (tender) process as early as 2017 when  Fadillah Yusof held the portfolio as Minister of Works.

“Subsequently, the SSLR project was officially approved in 2020 at a cost of RM1.2 billion when the Ministry of Works was led by Baru Bian,” Willie said.