SABAH AWAKENS! Why are peninsula tycoons like Syed Mokhtar getting mega contracts in Sabah - Ghapur

East Malaysian lawmakers may be lauding the Pan-Borneo highway across Sabah and Sarawak but one MP is far from impressed.

The RM27 billion highway stretches 1,633km across the two states.

Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan) complained that the project has given detractors fodder to accuse Umno of robbing the state.

He was upset that the Sabah section of the highway would be handled by UEM and MMC which are West Malaysia-based companies.

"I am not making this up but there are letters going out saying: 'Umno is robbing again, Umno is robbing again'.

"UEM and MMC, which are Umno companies led by Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, will be taking over the roads in Sabah," he said.

In contrast, Abdul Ghapur said the Sarawak section was being handled by the state's own companies.

"If there is a dialogue on this I am going to oppose (the West Malaysia companies), and I call on the prime minister - if this is true, to give it to Sabahans," he said.

Abdul Ghapur, who is from Umno himself, is a vocal leader for East Malaysia interests. -M'kini