KUCHING: Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (KSMC) and the people residing in the Samarahan area are very happy and pleased with the approval of the light rail transit (LRT) by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
KSMC chairman Datuk Peter Minos said the project covering routes from Samarahan to Kuching will help solve the terrible traffic jam problems in the area especially during peak hours.
“This is the first LRT project in Sarawak and it is a pride to us in Samarahan as well as the people in Kuching,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
Minos also thanked the chief minister and said that Abang Johari is a man of his words and a good leader who showed that he cared and is truly concerned with problems faced by the people.
“Samarahan has a big and growing population of over 200,000, concentrated in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Technology Mara (Uitm), a teachers’college, a skills institute, a heart centre, a peat swamp research centre, National Public Administration Institute (Intan), an army and an air force camp.
“There are over 40,000 residential homes in Kota Samarahan and many are coming up. Growing at 6 percent per year, it will be the fastest growing town in Sarawak by 2030, when it is going to be a city,” he pointed out.
Hence, he said Samarahan truly needs the LRT because of its population and because the people cannot rely on road transport alone.
“As chairman of KSMC, I want to say thank you very much to our chief minister. You have made our town a jubilant and happy place,” he said.
Minos was also optimistic that with improved roads, new traffic lights installed at major intersections and soon to be build LRT more investments and developments especially new residential homes will definitely be built in Samarahan.
