By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, April 3: There is a real need to implement the light rail transit (LRT) system from Kuching City to Kota Samarahan due to its rapid population growth.
According to Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Datuk Peter Minos, besides three major institutions of higher learning such as Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Tun Abdul Razak Teachers’ Training Institute, the locality has also experienced =tremendous population growth due mainly to migration and organic growth in population.
“Let’s face it, Kota Samarahan is the fastest growing urban centre in Sarawak due mainly to the existence of three major institutions of higher learning namley Unimas, UiTM and Tun Abdul Razak Teachers’ Training Institute.
“On top of that, the natural population of Kota Samarahan is also increasing with new housing estates sprouting up to cater for the growing needs.
“Because of that, there is a real need for a better pubic transport system such as the LRT to connect Kuching City and Kota Samarahan as it will ease traffic flow between the two major urban centres that are both fast growing,” Peter told DayakDaily here today.
He revealed that during MPKS’s second anniversary celebration on November 11, 2018, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg himself mentioned the need to revive the LRT project to meet the needs and request from the locals.
“So, if the Sarawak government has the means, the LRT project should be implemented. This way it will ease traveling time from Kuching to Kota Samarahan especially during peak hours,” he said.
Peter pointed out that if the project is viable, the people must support it as it for the benefit of the general public.
“But the opposition will always shoot down the idea (of implementing the LRT). But if the Sarawak Government has the means, then by all means it should implement it,” he reiretated.
The Chief Minister has on numerous occasions proposed the implementation of LRT between Kuching-Kota Samarahan to Serian. But due to outcry that it was a waste of public funds, the proposal has been shelved indefinitely. — DayakDaily
