By Marlynda Meraw
“ART will be able to provide access to universities including Unimas, UiTM, and Swinburne. It will also serve the heritage area and across the river to the other side, to Petra Jaya and Damai.” Abang Johari (September 12, 2022)
IN September 2019, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg made a defining decision that would reshape Sarawak’s urban mobility landscape. He announced the State’s decision to pursue the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system in place of a previously proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) network. The decision marked a pragmatic response to cost considerations and technological flexibility. ART, Abang Johari explained, would require only a third of the investment of an LRT system, while offering similar urban mobility benefits without the need for steel tracks or expensive civil works.
This position was further reinforced in May 2023, when Sarawak’s Minister for Transport (MOTS) Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin stated in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly that the ART system in Kuching was estimated to cost RM70 million per kilometre, compared to RM270.27 million per kilometre for the LRT in the Klang Valley. The ART’s virtual tracks, Lee added, could be built along existing roads without requiring extensive infrastructure, making it both affordable and flexible in responding to future transport needs. From the outset, ART was envisioned as a transformative State project. With a projected total cost of RM6 billion, it is one of Sarawak’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings.
It has laid the foundation for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), a transformative project designed to modernise public transport in Greater Kuching while addressing worsening traffic congestion. The system is led by Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Metro), a subsidiary of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), under the oversight of MOTS. A feasibility study for KUTS was initiated in 2017 and completed in 2018 by SEDC, laying the groundwork for what would become a flagship infrastructure initiative under the State’s green mobility agenda.
Engineering New Urban Mobility
The ART system represents a fusion of bus, tram, and train technologies, powered entirely by hydrogen fuel—a nod to Sarawak’s commitment to clean energy. Each vehicle can accommodate up to 250 passengers and reach speeds of 70 kilometres per hour. Abang Johari said that, if needed, it could be expanded to include up to five coaches, with provisions even considered for designated coaches for specific cargo such as durian. Accessibility has been prioritised: ART vehicles come equipped with features tailored for persons with disability and the elderly.
Though ART is an autonomous system, trained drivers will remain on board in supervisory roles, similar to pilots monitoring autopilot systems. Feeder connectivity will be supported by a fleet of 55 hydrogen-powered buses, facilitating “first mile and last mile” transport within a 3-kilometre radius of each station. The ART network will operate at 10-minute intervals, with a smart traffic light system granting right-of-way to ART vehicles to ensure minimal disruption of general traffic.
In July 2023, the system was officially named ‘Bulan’, the Malay word for moon, in homage to a historic locomotive from the Rajah Charles Brooke era. This symbolic name honours Sarawak’s past while pointing toward its aspirations in sustainable transport innovation.
Building the Backbone
The KUTS Phase 1 spans a total of 69.9 kilometres across three primary lines—the Blue Line (Rembus to Hikmah Exchange, 27.6km), the Red Line (Kuching Sentral to Pending, 12.3km), and the Green Line (Pending to Damai Central, 30km). These three lines were to be served by a total of 31 stations. As of October 2024, construction was underway across all lines. Phase 1 alone is projected to serve a daily ridership of up to 100,000 passengers for the first five years.
On July 18, 2022, Sarawak Metro, the project implementer awarded System Package 1 involving the hydrogen-powered ART rolling stock, signalling systems, automatic platform gates, and depot maintenance vehicles, to the joint venture company EPR (Kuching) Sdn Bhd, Global Rail Sdn Bhd, and Mobilus Sdn Bhd. Subsequently, on November 27, 2022, the RM448 million System Package 2 was awarded to DOM-EEV JV, comprising DOM Industries (M) Sdn Bhd and China Railway Electric Engineering Group Malaysia Sdn Bhd. This package covers telecommunication systems, automatic fare collection, operation control, and IT systems.
Later on November 30, 2022, the RM64.3 million contract for the construction of the Rembus Depot, the central depot for the Blue Line, was awarded to Hock Seng Lee Bhd (HSL). The 54-acre depot in Kota Samarahan includes hydrogen refuelling stations, workshops, a test track, administrative buildings, and an Operations Control Centre (OCC). It was set to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, in time for the Blue Line’s passenger service rollout.
The Blue Line infrastructure contract, valued at RM568.61 million, was awarded on November 11, 2023, to a consortium consisting of Ibraco Construction Sdn Bhd, China Railway Engineering Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, and Nanyang Tunnel Engineering. For the Red Line, a contract valued at RM943 million was awarded on December 24, 2023, to a joint venture comprising Sri Datai Construction (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, JT JV Builders Sdn Bhd, and CHEC Construction (M) Sdn Bhd. Construction for both contracts commenced in early 2024.
Sarawak Metro appointed PPES Consults Sdn Bhd (PCSB) on November 6, 2023, as the Project Delivery Partner for the Green Line’s second package, from the Yayasan Sarawak roundabout to Damai Central. Together, the three lines formed a foundational loop connecting residential zones, commercial hubs, and major educational institutions such as the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak, and the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak (Swinburne).
Rolling forward: Trials, Expansion, and Operations
In March 2023, a Stage 1 proof-of-concept (POC) test was conducted at the CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co Ltd in Hunan Province, China, which developed the prototype ART hydrogen vehicle. This prototype was shipped to Kuching in August 2023 and became the first of its kind outside China. A rigorous engineering run began on September 6, 2023, and spanned over 5,400 kilometres. The vehicle underwent its Stage 2 POC at Kuching Isthmus in November 2023, with live test rides contributing data to refine the vehicle’s final design.
Abang Johari announced in September 2023 that 38 ART units would be acquired to serve the three initial lines of the KUTS network. To enhance operational reliability, Sarawak Metro has worked with traffic system developers to enable smart traffic lights that will detect ART vehicles within a 50-metre range and grant them movement priority. Passenger service on the Blue Line was scheduled to begin by late 2025 or early 2026, followed by completion of all three lines by the end of 2027. Full operational readiness is targeted for early 2028.
ART passengers will have multiple payment options, including S Pay Global, GrabPay, credit card, and cash through ticket machines. Ongoing discussions between Sarawak Metro and the State government are being held over the final fare structure, with consideration for special introductory rates. As of February 2024, the prototype vehicle had clocked over 5,500 kilometres of testing across China and Sarawak. Future expansions are already being planned. A proposed Yellow Line to Batu Kawa was announced in October 2024, and feasibility studies are being conducted for an ART system in Bintulu, where growing industrial activities due to the new methanol and hydrogen plants at Samalaju and Kidurong are expected to generate increased commuter demand.
This forward-looking momentum aligns with Sarawak’s broader goal to develop a hydrogen-based economy and reduce carbon emissions in line with global Net Zero targets. As of February 2024, the prototype vehicle had clocked over 5,500 kilometres of testing across China and Sarawak.
A Transport Legacy in the Making
The ART is not just a transport project; it is a statement of Sarawak’s strategic priorities. Abang Johari has repeatedly emphasised the State’s intent to drive economic inclusivity while promoting sustainability. The ART vehicles and feeder buses, both powered by green hydrogen, underscore this pledge.
Through the development of the ART system, Abang Johari has set in motion a future-oriented strategy for mobility, industry, and environmental progress. With Bulan as its flagship, the ART network stands not only as a physical link across Greater Kuching, but as a symbol of Sarawak’s stride towards a cleaner, connected future.
The content featured here is an excerpt from the book “Rise of Sarawak: Abang Johari’s Era of Transformation”, published by Sage Salute Sdn Bhd.
