ART project: Premier ‘not fully satisfied’ with progress as completion rate stands at 35 pct

KUCHING (Dec 19): Although the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project has reached 35 per cent completion, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he is not fully satisfied with the pace of progress, stressing that the project is a key strategic initiative for the state.

Abang Johari said his visit to the project site was to ensure that the ART’s implementation was carried out carefully and in accordance with planning, even though the project had been entrusted to the relevant ministry.

“I have approved this project and said I wanted to see progress in December, so there must be something right? But no, there’s only a little (progress). (That) cannot be used (sik dapat pakei ya).

“I am a little satisfied (with the progress), but if asked whether I am 100 per cent satisfied, the answer is no.

“That’s why I came down here. If not, why would the Premier make a site visit like this? We have a ministry, but I came because this is a strategic project. I don’t want it to be ‘cincai’,” he said.

He made the remark at a press conference after a visit at ART Central Station construction site at Padang Pasir here on Friday.

Elaborating further, Abang Johari said the ART Central Station is being developed in the Padang Pasir area near Masjid Bandaraya Kuching and will serve as the main urban transport hub, with a concept similar to KL Sentral.

The central hub is expected to become the main interchange for all ART lines and is targeted to be completed by 2028.

He added that it will connect various strategic locations around Kuching City, including Market Street, with access from Padang Merdeka, which in turn links Heritage Street, Capital Street, and continues to Padungan.

“All these lines will converge at the as the main station. People will be connected to any direction of Kuching city,” he said.

He said the hub is designed to provide direct connectivity to key areas such as the city centre, heritage zones, Simpang Tiga and Petra Jaya.

“People do not have to take the bus. They can travel using ART, and hopefully there will be less traffic on the road,” he said.

He said the green line will eventually link government offices in Petra Jaya, with plans for further network expansion and park-and-ride facilities at selected stations to promote public transport use.

“The green line will connect with our offices in Petra Jaya, and eventually it will go further,” he said.

He also said that the state government does not want development in the areas involved to face problems like those that occurred in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

He said village areas in Sarawak need to preserve their heritage, but at the same time be modernised with proper planning.

“If left unchecked, issues with land ownership and inheritance will eventually arise. That’s why we modernise early. Facilities must be available, and the method of implementation is up to the villagers,” he said.

Among others present were Sarawak Deputy Minister of Transport (Air and Land) Datuk Dr Jerip Susil; Chairman of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Abdul Aziz Dato Husain; and Sarawak Metro Chief Executive Mazli Mustaffa.