By Mohd Khairy Abdullah @ DG Henry
PENAMPANG (Sabah, Malaysia), Sept 22, 2025 – A key infrastructure project in Penampang has achieved remarkable progress as the upgrading of the Moyog River Bridge at Timpangoh Agricultural Station–Babagon has advanced 37 percent faster than its original schedule. This milestone not only highlights the efficiency of project implementation but also signals a new chapter for the Babagon community, which has long awaited this essential facility.
Penampang Member of Parliament and Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said the positive progress gives confidence that the RM16.8 million project could be opened for public use by the end of this year – much earlier than the two-year timeframe originally set.
“In June last year, I officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for this bridge. Today, I am pleased to see that the project is well ahead of schedule, and I believe the people will benefit from this facility sooner than expected,” he said during a site inspection today.
The 90-metre concrete bridge, which commenced construction in June 2024, will benefit more than 6,000 residents of Babagon, particularly farmers who rely heavily on road access to bring their produce to market.
Beyond agriculture, the new bridge is expected to ease the daily commute of residents traveling to schools, workplaces, and nearby economic centres. For decades, villagers have depended on a low-level crossing, which often becomes impassable during heavy rains and floods.
“This bridge is more than concrete and steel – it is the fulfillment of a decades-long aspiration. It represents safety, resilience, and dignity for the Babagon community,” Ewon stressed.
Ewon also expressed appreciation to the Public Works Department (JKR) and the implementing contractor for their discipline and commitment in ensuring that the project runs ahead of schedule.
“The strong collaboration between the government, technical agencies, and contractors proves that well-planned and well-executed projects can deliver faster benefits to the people,” he noted.
According to Ewon, the bridge exemplifies the MADANI government’s development agenda, which emphasizes delivering projects with direct and meaningful impact to local communities.
“Every initiative like this is an investment in the future – opening economic opportunities, improving quality of life, and ensuring greater safety for generations to come. This is the true face of MADANI development,” he concluded.
