SARAWAK will not abandon its long-term development plans to satisfy short-term political arguments, said Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin in defending the state’s Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project against calls to halt its development.

Lee was responding to DAP-Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen’s proposal to repurpose the ART’s dedicated corridors for private cars and buses.

“Let me make this absolutely clear—Sarawak deserves world-class infrastructure, Sarawak deserves international connectivity, and the people of Sarawak deserve the same opportunities for progress and prosperity as the people of Penang or any other state in Malaysia.

“We are not building merely for the next election. We are planning for the next generation,” he said when delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting here on Monday.

Lee said prudent financial management did not mean halting development, but ensuring strategic investments were properly planned, economically justified and implemented with financial discipline.

“We welcome constructive scrutiny of project costs and benefits. But to dismiss every major infrastructure investment simply because it involves billions of ringgit is not sound economic planning,” he added.

Addressing Chong’s proposal, Lee stressed the need for Kuching to have a dependable, high-capacity public transport system that provides a genuine alternative to private vehicles.

“Converting dedicated public transport corridors into general traffic lanes would undermine the very purpose for which this infrastructure is being developed,” he said.

He said the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) was designed to encourage public transport use, reduce dependence on private vehicles, minimise road accidents and improve urban mobility through an integrated transport network.

He said the ART system would operate on dedicated lanes, allowing it to avoid much of the congestion affecting general traffic and providing a stronger foundation for reliable journey times.

Complementing the network, feeder buses would connect residential neighbourhoods and surrounding communities to the ART system, making public transport more accessible and practical for daily commuters, he added.

“For the working population, this means having an alternative to the daily stress of driving, unpredictable journey times and hours lost in traffic.

“For students, senior citizens and families without access to private vehicles, it means improved access to employment, education, healthcare and other essential services,” he said.

Lee noted that other states were pursuing their own public transport initiatives to address urban mobility challenges, including Penang’s Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project and Johor’s proposed Elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit (E-ART) system.

“Does the Honourable Member for Padungan want Sarawak to be left behind?” he asked.

Although these systems differed in technology, design and implementation, Lee said they reflected the continuing need to develop structured public transport solutions alongside conventional road infrastructure.

He said representatives from other states, including Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state executive councillors from Perak, Melaka, Selangor and Johor, had visited Sarawak to learn about the KUTS initiative.

“They are very impressed with our project implementation and are considering implementing similar projects in their respective states,” he said.

Lee said these developments provided an opportunity for Sarawak to share its experience while continuing to strengthen the planning, implementation and operation of its own public transport system.

He also cited Singapore as an example of the importance of long-term public transport planning, noting that the development of its Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, which began in the 1980s, formed part of a broader strategy to support urban mobility and accommodate a growing population.

“Today, the MRT is the backbone of Singapore’s public transport network. Similarly, Sarawak must consider not only its present transport challenges, but also the requirements of future generations,” he said.

Credits: Kentigern Minggu, The Borneo Post 2026