By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 15: Sarawak will not abandon its modernisation agenda despite calls to stop major development projects, including Tanjung Embang and the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said some people had urged him to stop the Tanjung Embang development and ART project, claiming they would waste public funds, despite Sarawak’s efforts to make Kuching a cleaner city through hydrogen technology.
“That is why some people are telling me to stop. They say, ‘Stop the development of Tanjung Embang. You are going to waste money. Stop ART.’
“We want to make Kuching a clean city using hydrogen. The cost of producing hydrogen through electrolysis has now come down, with the development of new membranes. Yet they are telling us to stop everything.
“They want us to remain sitting in trees,” he said when speaking at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Convention for Southern Zone held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here, today.
Abang Johari, who is also PBB president, further said Sarawak would remain committed to pursuing development that would enable Sarawak to compete globally and establish itself as a hub for ASEAN and regional development.
“That is why we will not budge from modernising Sarawak so that it can compete with the world. This is our struggle. I will not withdraw from that, and neither will PBB.
“We will position Sarawak as a hub for ASEAN, the region and, in fact, the world in terms of technology,” he added.
On Oct 14, Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen had urged the Sarawak government to halt further development of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) autonomous rapid transit (ART) project, citing concerns over excessive spending and consecutive years of budget deficits.
During the Sarawak Budget 2027 debate, he also called on the State to reconsider its proposed RM10 billion new Kuching International Airport and deep-sea port, suggesting that existing infrastructure be upgraded instead. — DayakDaily
