KUCHING (Nov 6): The federal government has awarded a tender for 56 new buses in Kuching, expected to arrive here early next year.

Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said this is part of the efforts to further modernise the city’s public transport.

Lee announced this in a statement issued by his ministry today following a meeting with the Sarawak Public Transport Committee (SPTC) at a hotel here on Monday.

At the meeting, Lee emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts between the government and private sectors in addressing public transport challenges and issues in Sarawak.

“The establishment of the Sarawak Public Transport Committee has provided a unified platform for stakeholders to deliberate on public transport issues and innovate solutions,” he said.

The formation of the Divisional Transport Committee in 2020, chaired by Residents of the various divisions in the state, is to help look into localised issues that can be resolved administratively and to gather feedback from local stakeholders on transport matters, Lee said.

This committee could put up proposals to the SPTC, including proposed projects to resolve local transport infrastructure to tackle transport issues at the divisional levels, he said.

“Public transportation remains a pivotal topic in Sarawak, integral to the economic growth outlined in the Post Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

“Recent projects, such as the Miri Smart Buses, replacing old buses with modern Volvo models, and introducing a zero-fare smart bus system are targeted at transforming public transport,” said Lee.

He said this initiative has 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.

Key infrastructure projects were also addressed during the meeting, 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 in Kuching, with tenders called for the Red and Blue lines, and progress of riverine projects such as the pontoon wharf in Bintangor and Sibu.

Lee also expressed optimism about the future of public transportation in Sarawak, emphasising the importance of continued collaboration, cooperation, and innovation among all stakeholders.