ASAJAYA: The proposed new international airport in Tanjung Embang, which will replace the Kuching International Airport (KIA), will be supported by the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system. Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said Asajaya is set to undergo a major transformation and become Sarawak’s strategic transportation hub within the next five years.
“This is a major transformation for Asajaya. From an area that was once difficult to access, we will soon have an international airport complete with rapid transit. “All of this will be realised within the next five years,” he said during the closing of the Asajaya Ambal Festival 2026 on Saturday. He added that the ART route will function similar to the KLIA Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 connection, enabling efficient passenger movement between domestic and international destinations.
The new airport will involve several villages, including Kampung Beliong, Beradek, Tiang Api, and Sungai Tanjung, with a Land Acquisition Notice already issued for the Beliong area and compensation prepared for affected landowners.
Abdul Karim stressed that the development will not only focus on the airport but will also include road networks and supporting infrastructure to nearby villages, ensuring local residents benefit from the mega project. He urged Asajaya residents to change their mindset and be prepared to adapt to rapid transformation, in line with the region’s growing socio-economic development, including increased vehicle ownership and rising living standards.
“Progress is already happening here. What used to take hours of travel time will soon be reached in a much shorter period. Asajaya is changing and its people must change with it,” he said.
