KUCHING, Oct 19 2026: Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin has flatly rejected Padungan State Legislative Member (SLM) Chong Chieng Jen's proposal for the state government to halt further development of the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system and convert its dedicated infrastructure into lanes for private cars and buses.
He said such a proposal may appear to offer a convenient solution to today's traffic congestion.
"However, it does not address the fundamental question before us: How do we move more people efficiently, rather than simply accommodate more vehicles on our roads?" he asked in his winding up speech in the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.
Lee reminded Chong that Kuching needs a dependable, high-capacity public transport system that provides a genuine alternative to private vehicles, saying that converting dedicated public transport corridors into general
traffic lanes would undermine the very purpose for which this infrastructure is being developed.
"The Kuching Urban Transportation System is planned to transform the way people move around Kuching. It is designed to encourage public transport use, reduce dependence on private vehicles, reduce road accidents and improve urban
mobility through an integrated transport network.
"The ART system will 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 this backbone, feeder buses will connect residential neighbourhoods and surrounding communities to the ART network, making public transport more accessible and practical for everyday commuters," Lee said.
He said 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 the ART vehicles including buses being powered by hydrogen will further promote green mobility which contributes to environmental sustainability.
"We must therefore judge KUTS by its ability to deliver long-term public benefits, not simply by the construction activities or traffic inconvenience experienced during its implementation," he said.
Lee said other states are pursuing their own public transport initiatives to address the mobility challenges faced by their respective urban centres.
"Penang is advancing its Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, while Johor is pursuing the Elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit (E-ART) system.
"Does the Honourable Member for Padungan want Sarawak to be left behind?" he asked.
He said other state governments have come to Sarawak to learn about the KUTS initiative, saying that they are very impressed with Sarawak's project implementation and are considering to implement similar projects in their respective states.
He said Singapore provides another example of the role of long-term public transport planning. Its development of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, beginning in the 1980s, formed part of a broader strategy to support urban mobility and accommodate the needs of a growing population.
"Today, the MRT is a backbone of Singapore's public transport network," he said.
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