KUCHING, June 14– The submarine cable project linking Sarawak and Johor is still awaiting approval from the Indonesian government before a seabed survey can be carried out to determine the project’s final route.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said this was because about 60 to 70 per cent of the proposed cable route passes through Indonesian waters.
As such, he said, the neighbouring country’s approval is required before survey works can proceed.
“We are still awaiting approval for the proposed route to enable the seabed survey to be conducted, as the route under study and proposed for the cable will pass through Indonesian waters.
“We have submitted a letter to the relevant authorities and, once approval is obtained, all parties involved will proceed with the seabed survey to determine the cable’s final route,” he told reporters after officiating the Surau Nurul Muslimin in Kampung Sungai Bedil, Petra Jaya, here today.
The Sarawak-Johor undersea cable project has been proposed as one of the initiatives aimed at enhancing telecommunications connectivity and high-capacity internet links between Sabah and Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
On the ASEAN Power Grid, Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said efforts to harmonise technical standards and requirements for its implementation are now being coordinated through the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), which is based in Jakarta.
He said one of the key challenges facing the initiative is the varying levels of grid infrastructure readiness among ASEAN member states.
“Some countries still need to upgrade their existing systems,” he said.
