KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has called on the state’s opposition to stop politicising the implementation of Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. “At first I wanted to implement the LRT, but there were people who disagreed.
They said we are wasting money, so I suspended the project,” he said at a ceremony here yesterday. He added that he did not want to implement the LRT as it was politicised by the opposition but, Samarahan residents wanted the LRT to be implemented.
“They said it is better to have LRT now rather than it being postponed. “I may have to review the Kuching-Samarahan residents’ appeal so that this project will be implemented immediately,” he said. Abang Johari also pointed out that the state government had a master plan to promote Kuching city and its surrounding areas lichas M a t a n g , Tabuan, Batu Kawah and Batu 10.
There are about 700,000 residents in Kuching and Samarahan has been growing rapidly with many new housing areas being opened. Residents working in either Kuching city or Samarahan often face severe road congestion every day, especially in the morning and evening.
The congestion not only caused them to get up early in the morning but also trapped in their vehicles for one and a half hours. Thus, most of the residents have asked Abang Johari to carry out the Kuching-Samarahan LRT project in the near future to alleviate the problems.
