26-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
RM6 billion allocated for Kuching Urban Transportation System
KUCHING: The state government has allocated RM6 billion for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), said state Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin today.
He said of the amount, the capital expenditure has reached RM1.03 billion, underscoring the Sarawak government's strong financial commitment to this transformative project.
"As of April 2025, the overall actual progress for KUTS Phase 1 stands at 29.89 per cent, against 33.86 per cent, which includes design and engineering works, system works, procurement, land acquisition and construction activities," Lee said in his winding up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.
"As of today, a total of six infrastructure package contracts have been awarded under the project," he said, adding that out of these, two packages have been successfully completed — the advanced ground foundation works for the Rembus Depot and the construction of a three-kilometre stretch essential for the proof of concept (POC) trial run in Samarahan.
He added that the remaining four packages were currently in progress, including the Blue Line Package 1, Blue Line Package 2, and the Red Line Package.
He said the infrastructure package for Green Line is presently in the preparatory stage for tender.
Lee said the state government was emphasising on green agenda in the transformation of the public transport system through initiatives such as development of KUTS, which will be powered by clean hydrogen energy.
He said the initiatives reflect Sarawak's commitment to the National Green Investment Strategies and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
On the proposed development of the new Kuching International Airport (KIA) at Tanjung Embang in Kuching district, Lee said his ministry has recently appointed an international consultant in joint venture with a local consultant to undertake the site verification and feasibility study, marking a significant milestone in the early planning phase.
He added the next phase, under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), will involve the formulation of a comprehensive aerotropolis master plan and detailed design of the new airport, covering all critical components such as terminal capacity, runway systems, airside and landside facilities, multimodal connectivity and scalability to meet future passenger and cargo demands.
"This will prepare us for the subsequent construction phase of the new airport," he said.
Lee said he was unable to provide the total cost of the new airport at this moment as the site verification and feasibility studies have yet to be completed before; thus any realistic cost estimation cannot be made.
He said the construction of the new Kuching International Airport is a commitment to build critical infrastructure that supports economic transformation and positions Sarawak as a leading regional hub in the Borneo region.
