Latest news with #KUTS
Borneo Post
15 hours ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Contractor to redesign KUTS project barriers at Tabuan Stutong Commercial Centre entrance
Wee (right), See (second left), and others are seen during mediation with the contractor. KUCHING (July 31): A contractor for Sarawak Metro, which is the implementer of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project, has agreed to dismantle proposed barriers at an entrance to the Tabuan Stutong Commercial Centre. Kuching South mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the move would accommodate the needs of a business operator. 'The contractor has assured that the proposed barriers, which cause blockage to the main entrance of the retail shop at Tabuan Stutong, will be dismantled and its layout will be redesigned to suit the needs of the business operator,' he said in a statement today following mediation at the site. A shop owner had complained about barriers put up at the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) construction site on Jalan Wan Alwi. The affected business operator, who is the tenant occupying a ground floor corner shophouse at Tabuan Stutong, claimed his retail outlet was gravely affected by the approximately four-metre-high barriers. He expressed fear that the barriers would result in a significant drop in sales during the ART construction period. Wee said any development project, be it undertaken by the government or private sector, must be carried out in accordance with laws and regulations, minimising inconvenience. 'As the mayor, I have a pivotal role to play in community engagement, especially when it comes to addressing people's interests or predicament vis-a-vis government agencies,' he said. He slammed certain quarters who took the opportunity to politicise ART or issues arising from the KUTS project to achieve political mileage instead of helping the aggrieved parties resolve matters. 'We need development at one hand but not at the expense of our people, especially at this very challenging time of economic struggle by all sectors including but not limited to retail businesses,' said Wee. He also thanked Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, councillor Eric Tay, and other community leaders, who were present to show their support and concern. KUTS lead Tabuan Stutong Commercial Centre Wee Hong Seng
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak Metro responds to Taman Stutong Indah complaints, vows mitigation efforts
An engagement session on July 23 with some of the residents near one of the construction sites along the Blue Line alignment. KUCHING (July 29): Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd has acknowledged recent public complaints over disturbances caused by construction work for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project at Taman Stutong Indah, pledging continued engagement and mitigation efforts. In a statement issued today, the company said that while its contractors are working to minimise impact on nearby communities, the scale and location of the project – covering densely populated areas in Kuching and Kota Samarahan – inevitably pose challenges. 'Due to the scope of this project, Sarawak Metro acknowledges that there will always be room for improvement in terms of ensuring that the KUTS Project is implemented as smoothly as possible,' the statement read. Referring to the recent public complaints at Taman Stutong Indah, Sarawak Metro said its infrastructure contractor had met with residents in the area, including the resident in question, just last week, and was currently in the midst of implementing some of the impact mitigation efforts. As part of its follow-up, representatives from Sarawak Metro and the infrastructure contractor visited the site again today to monitor the situation and continue community engagement. The company also addressed a recent media report regarding a request to use electricity from a resident's home to support construction activities. 'Sarawak Metro clarifies that one of the sub-contractors for the Blue Line Package 2 infrastructure contractor did make an offer to one of the residents in the area to tap power for one day from the home of the resident in question, as the sub-contractor's generator set had yet to arrive at the construction site. 'However, as the offer was rejected, and the generator set subsequently arrived on site, the sub-contractor considered the matter closed,' the statement read. KUTS lead mitigation Sarawak Metro Taman Stutong Indah
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
ART: Tmn Stutong Indah residents claim KUTS contractors sought use of home electricity for construction activities
Taman Stutong Indah residents voice their grievances to Lam (right) during his visit. KUCHING (July 29): The Kuching Urban Transformation System's (KUTS) contractors undertaking the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project at Taman Stutong Indah here had allegedly requested to use electricity from a resident's home to support construction activities, said George Lam. The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak secretary said this was brought to his attention by the residents concerned, prompting him to visit the site. 'This is highly unprofessional and unacceptable,' he said in a statement issued yesterday following the visit. Lam said according to the residents at Taman Stutong Indah, they were not given any prior notice about the construction works. 'There was no official communication regarding the timeline, alignment, and expected disturbances. 'The residents are experiencing ongoing disturbances including noise from machinery and dust. These disruptions are affecting their daily lives and privacy.' He added that based on his observations during the visit, the construction area was not properly secured, while heavy machinery were operating 'very close to the residential area without clear barriers or warning signs to protect the public'. In addition, Lam said large construction lorries were crossing the main road regularly without proper traffic control, creating a dangerous environment for road users in the area. 'At a point of the construction, there was a sudden road blockage without any prior notification, creating confusion and inconvenience. 'As such, I urge the KUTS project undertaker, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd, to temporarily halt this construction until a mutual consent is achieved between the residents and the responsible parties,' he said.
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
Sarawak Metro must take action against KUTS contractors over pipe damage, says Dapsy man
A photo taken on Wednesday shows the murky water. KUCHING (July 25): The Kuching Urban Transformation System's (KUTS) project undertaker, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd must investigate, penalise and blacklist irresponsible contractors who caused the recent pipeline damage, said Wong King Yii. The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak treasurer also called upon the Kuching Water Board to take prompt action to ensure residents in affected areas have access to clean water. 'I am dismayed by the repeated pipeline damage caused by contractors working under the KUTS project. 'These incidents have disrupted water supply to thousands of residents in Tabuan Jaya, Samarahan and nearby areas as a result of negligence and poor supervision,' he said in a statement today. KWB said a 12-inch asbestos cement water main near Jalan Wan Alwi was damaged on July 22 while a 200mm ductile iron main at Desa Ilmu was also damaged during construction on July 18. Wong said KWB must strive to resolve the long-standing murky water issues in other parts of Kuching, especially in Green Road and Jalan Song. According to him, the board has repeatedly promised to fix the murky water problem in Green Road but residents there continue to face murky, discoloured water. In Jalan Song, he said the situation is equally bad with residents recently experiencing either murky water or no water supply at all. 'Some were forced to shower at hotels just to get through the day. This is not just an inconvenience – it's a failure in basic service delivery. 'What makes matters worse is that the transboundary haze is already happening. With temperatures rising and air quality declining, access to clean and uninterrupted water supply is more critical than ever. 'The last thing people need in this weather is to deal with brown water or dry taps,' he lamented. Wong said development means nothing if basic utilities like clean water cannot be guaranteed. Given this, he said those responsible, be it contractor negligence or agency inaction, must be held accountable. 'Sarawakians deserve reliable infrastructure, not recurring disruptions and vague assurances,' he added.
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak Metro tightens protocols after utility disruptions during KUTS works
In a statement, Sarawak Metro said it remains committed to minimising service interruptions as the KUTS project enters its peak construction phase. – File photo KUCHING (July 25): Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd is reviewing and tightening operational protocols to improve coordination with contractors, boost on-site supervision, and prevent further disruptions to utility services during construction works. In a statement today, the company said it remains committed to minimising service interruptions as the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project enters its peak construction phase. 'We are fully committed to minimising disruptions to utility services, especially at this critical stage of the KUTS project,' said Sarawak Metro. The statement was issued in response to recent pipeline damage incidents by the Kuching Water Board (KWB), involving underground pipelines along Jalan Datuk Muhammad Musa in Kota Samarahan and Jalan Wan Alwi in Kuching. The damage, caused by excavation works linked to the KUTS project, had disrupted water supply to nearby residential areas. Sarawak Metro expressed regret over the incidents and extended its sincere apologies to the affected communities in the inconvenience caused. The company said it had worked closely with the involved contractors and KWB to carry out immediate repair works and restored water supply as quickly as possible. Sarawak Metro also reiterated that it continues to engage closely with all relevant utility providers and their contractors – particularly prior to excavation activities near underground utility assets – to ensure preventive measures are in place. 'We are taking steps to enhance coordination and oversight to prevent similar issues in the future,' the company stressed. It also expressed appreciation to government agencies and utility providers for their cooperation, as well as to the public for their patience and support in realising a green public transport system for Greater Kuching. KUTS operational protocols Sarawak Metro utility disruptions
