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By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, June 12: The Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system consists of a trackless tram outfitted with rubber tyres that allows it to run on tarmac instead of on rails as required by ordinary trains, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Abang Johari stated this when delivering his speech before launching the 2023 Forest Conservation Conference at a hotel in Kuching today.
“The Sarawak government encourages the use of hydrogen-powered public transport in the State, including hydrogen-powered ART.
“The ART system consisted of a trackless tram, outfitted with rubber tyres that allow it to run on tarmac (a paving material that consists of crushed stone rolled and bound with a mixture of tar and bitumen) instead of on rails as required by ordinary trains,” he said.
Abang Johari, who is also the Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development and Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, said that more ART vehicles would start coming and that the State will begin commercial operations, which is expected to be by the end of 2025.
Earlier in the Premier’s speech, he mentioned that Sarawak had taken a step forward in promoting environmental sustainability through the introduction of the first electric bus services to the public in March 2021, covering 54 stops from the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) building to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.
Amongst those present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; Malaysian Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) Dato Sri Huang Tiong Sii; Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak (MEESTY) Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; Forestry Department Sarawak (FDS) director Datu Hamden Mohamad; Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR) permanent secretary Datu Zaidi Mahdi; and NRECC deputy secretary-general Abdul Wahid Abu Salim. — DayakDaily
