Sarawak Metro awards two contracts for KUTS project

KUCHING (Sept 1): Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Metro) awarded two contracts for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project last Friday (Aug 30).

The first contract was awarded to a joint venture company, comprising Perbena Emas Sdn Bhd and China Road & Bridge Corporation, for the construction and completion of infrastructure works for Package 2 of the Blue Line, approximately 11 kilometres.

The contract, valued at RM804,700,982.36, involves the construction of the Blue Line Package 2, which stretches from Stutong to Hikmah Exchange in the city centre.

Apart from constructing the dedicated at-grade and elevated lane and stations for the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART), the scope of work also includes road widening and other essential infrastructure enhancements.

According to a press release from Sarawak Metro, a total of 13 tender submissions were received by Sarawak Metro at the tender closing date on July 4, this year.

The second contract awarded by Sarawak Metro that day was the the Bus Integrated System (BIS) contract, awarded to a joint venture company consisting of Shorefield Sdn Bhd, China Huaxin Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Kentkart International LLP.

The contract sum, which includes optional items valued at RM55,500,000, consists of the design, engineering, procurement, manufacture, supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning, and handover of the BIS for the feeder bus service.

The hydrogen-powered feeder buses will provide the first and last mile connectivity, supporting the ART network for the KUTS project.

For this contract, the JV Company will also take part in Sarawak Metro’s Socio-Economic Enhancement Development (SEED) Programme, which among others, aims to develop the local human capital and local supply chain for the modern public transport industry.

Sarawak Metro revealed that a total of five tender submissions were received by Sarawak Metro at the tender closing date on July 1, this year.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Ts. Mazli Mustaffa said the company remains committed to ensuring that Phase 1 of the KUTS project is completed on time.

“We are excited to introduce a modern, reliable and efficient public transport system that will be fully completed by 2027,” he said in the press release following presentation of Letters of Award to the respective JV companies.

Sarawak Metro, a subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), has been entrusted to develop, operate and maintain the KUTS, which is under the purview of the Ministry of Transport Sarawak.

The project is being developed in phases, and Phase 1 includes the development of three lines: the Blue Line from Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Hikmah Exchange in the city centre; the Red Line, from Kuching Sentral to Pending; and the Green Line, from Pending to Damai.

Construction of the first package for the Blue Line is expected to complete by the fourth quarter of 2025 and all three lines are scheduled to be fully completed by the end of 2027.