KUCHING: Public transportation remains a pivotal topic in Sarawak, integral to the economic growth outlined in the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
In stating this State Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim said the establishment of the Sarawak Public Transport Committee (SPTC) is therefore to serve as a central platform for stakeholders to deliberate on public transport issues and innovate solutions.
He said it was important that the government and private sectors address public transport challenges and issues at SPTC meetings.
He said Divisional Transport Committees formed in 2020 and chaired by the respective Residents are there to address localised issues that can be resolved administratively and also to gather valuable feedback from local stakeholders on transport matters.
“These committees can also put up proposals to SPTC, including proposed projects to resolve their local transport infrastructure to tackle transport issues at the divisional levels,” he said in the SPTC meeting here on Monday (Nov 4).
In this context Lee said recent projects, such as the Miri Smart Buses, replacing old buses with modern Volvo models and introducing a zero-fare smart bus system were targeted at transforming public transport.
He said this initiative had significantly increased ridership and even fostered family bonding through parents bringing their children to use the public buses during weekend outings instead of driving their own cars.
“The federal government has awarded a tender for 56 new buses in Kuching which are expected to arrive in early 2025, further modernising the city’s public transport,” he said.
Additionally, key infrastructure projects were also addressed, including the newly announced International Airport and the proposed upgrades for Miri and Kuching Airports.
Updates were also provided on the ongoing Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project and progress of riverine projects such as the Pontoon Wharf in Bintangor and Sibu.
