Sarawak, Perak explore transport cooperation, possible direct AirBorneo flights

Lee (left) with Loh during a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Transport Sarawak office in Bangunan Baitulmakmur, Kuching, on Jan 29, 2026.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Jan 29: Sarawak and Perak are exploring strategic cooperation in transportation and air connectivity, including the potential introduction of direct AirBorneo flights linking Sarawak and Ipoh, following a courtesy visit by a Perak state government delegation to the Sarawak Minister for Transport today.

The delegation, led by Perak state executive councillor (Exco) for Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Loh Sze Yee, paid the visit to Sarawak Minister for Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin at his office in Bangunan Baitulmakmur here, where discussions focused on strengthening inter-state collaboration, particularly in transport development and regional connectivity.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on Sarawak’s transport development strategies and ongoing initiatives aimed at supporting sustainable growth and improving connectivity.

Lee said the Sarawak Ministry of Transport oversees the development of land, air and maritime transportation, with a strong focus on building a future-ready and integrated transport ecosystem. Among the key initiatives highlighted were the recent commencement of operations of Sarawak-owned airline AirBorneo and the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system, which is currently under active construction.

He noted that Sarawak’s ART system is the first hydrogen-powered ART system outside China, adding that the feeder bus services supporting the ART network are also hydrogen-powered. To enhance long-term sustainability and cost efficiency, Sarawak is moving towards producing its own hydrogen, alongside ongoing research and development efforts to further reduce energy costs.

Lee emphasised that the Sarawak government remains committed to long-term planning, innovation and sustainable transport solutions. He added that Sarawak’s transport initiatives have attracted growing interest, citing previous visits by delegations from the Penang and Johor state governments, as well as representatives from Brunei, Indonesia and the Netherlands, many of whom had visited and experienced the ART system firsthand.

Meanwhile, Loh said Sarawak’s rapid development in recent years has attracted widespread attention, prompting the Perak state government to engage directly with Sarawak for mutual sharing and learning. He noted that both states share several similarities and expressed interest in exchanging ideas and exploring ways to move forward together.

Loh also expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen relations between the Sarawak and Perak governments, paving the way for closer cooperation that would bring mutual benefits in economic development, tourism growth and inter-state relations. — DayakDaily