KOTA KINABALU, Oct 1 -- All state governments have been asked to submit detailed transportation project proposals to enable the Federal government to consider including them in the 2020 Budget and the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). 

In stating this today, Transport Deputy Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said now is the best time to submit the plans to the Economic Affairs Ministry which is in the midst of identifying projects which will be provided with allocations next year.  

Kamarudin said this to reporters after attending the opening ceremony of the two-day 2nd Sabah Port Forum here, which was launched by Sabah Health and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung who was representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, with Suria Capital Holdings Berhad and Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Ibrahim Menudin also present.  

Asked about the Sabah government's plan to build a 175 kilometre railway line from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat, Kamarudin said while his ministry had yet to receive specific information on the proposal, he was optimistic that the project would be considered positively by the Federal government.  

He added that if the project was not included in the 2020 Budget, it would be incorporated into the 12MP which will also take effect next year.

In June, Mohd Shafie had said the railway line was vital to efforts aimed at upgrading and advancing Sabah's shipping sector, aside from serving as a measure to reduce the dependence on container lorries and tankers to transport goods meant for export, through roads which were congested with traffic, particularly in Sepanggar.

-- BERNAMA