Malaysia to Build Cross-Border Highway from Sarawak to Indonesian capital, Costing Billions Ringgit

Illustration of the road in South Kalimantan. (Unsplash-Fahrul Razi)

JAKARTA - The Malaysian government, along with relevant stakeholders, will build a superhighway across Borneo, Sarawak, Kalimantan, and the Indonesian Capital City (IKN), allocating billions of ringgit in funding. This includes continuing the Sarawak-Sabah Highway project, which will pass through Brunei Darussalam.

The Sarawak Business Federation, an umbrella body representing hundreds of trading entities, commended the Malaysian Federal Government for prioritizing this land route, which will transform the socio-economic landscape of Borneo Island over the next five years.

This development plan was also announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the deliberations on the 13th Malaysian Development Plan (13MP), which covers the five-year period until 2030.

"The direct Sarawak-Sabah highway will vastly improve road links between the two states, as travelers will enjoy seamless interstate connectivity," said the Federation's Secretary-General, Datuk Jonathan Chai, as quoted by theSun online, Tuesday, August 4.

"The elevation of Sarawak to Kalimantan and subsequently to the Indonesian archipelago will transform the region into another major socio-economic hub for Kalimantan. Cross-border trade and social connections will experience a significant surge," he continued.

He added that the road network will also be a catalyst for other developments, such as the integration of electricity supply across the island of Borneo. Major road projects will be expedited for completion within five years.

Currently, the overland commuter route from Miri, Sarawak, to Sabah must pass through Brunei, and must pass through four immigration and customs checkpoints—one each with a Malaysian and Bruneian post. This means Malaysian travelers must stop and have their passports scanned eight times, often facing long queues and traffic congestion at the border.

The proposed Sarawak-Sabah Highway will provide a direct route from Miri to Sabah, bypassing Brunei entirely. Putrajaya will fund the highway through a RM7.4 billion package.