BINTULU: The Sarawak Government will expand the modern transportation system to Bintulu through the implementation of the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) transportation system, thus forming a ‘three satellite’ network connecting Bintulu, Kidurong and Samalaju.
Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said the initiative will make Bintulu the second city after Kuching to enjoy smart transportation facilities based on green technology.
“The government will strive to improve mobility facilities in Bintulu, including establishing a direct connection from Bintulu to Kidurong and then to Samalaju.
“This means that we will create three satellites from Bintulu to Kidurong, and Kidurong to Samalaju,” he said.
He said this during his speech at the opening of the Imperial Hotel Bintulu, here, on Wednesday.
The Sarawak Premier added that the development of the network will be completed with the construction of a small station or 'satellite outship' in Samalaju which will be part of the implementation of the ART under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
“We will provide an ART that uses hydropower to connect Bintulu-Kidurong to Samalaju.
“ART has been implemented in Kuching and now we are implementing the second one in Bintulu. This will significantly increase the efficiency of mobility between these three important centres,” he said.
Along with the increasing energy needs in the area, the Sarawak Premier also announced the construction of a 500 Megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas power plant in Bintulu as a measure to strengthen the state's energy infrastructure.
According to him, the state government's target is to supply up to one gigawatt (1,000 MW) of electricity by 2035, in line with the growth of investments and the increasing population in Bintulu.
“This plant will provide energy supply to the residents of Bintulu as well as investors who come here. After this, a second plant with the capacity of 500 MW will be built.
“These efforts are among the state government's commitments to support economic growth and attract more investors to this area,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari also revealed plans to build an international school in Bintulu to meet the needs of the growing global community.
“We expect an increase in population not only among locals, but also foreigners who come to study and work in Bintulu. Therefore, an international school is very much needed,” he said.
He explained that all these planned initiatives are strategic investments by the state government in realising the vision of making Bintulu a major economic and investment hub by 2035, also supported by private sector investments.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Professor Dr. Sim Kui Hian, Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Minister for Utility and Telecommunications, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Deputy Minister of Utility (Sarawak Energy Berhad and PETROS), Dato Ibrahim Baki, Executive Chairman of the Shin Yang Group, Tan Sri Datuk Ling Chiong Ho, and Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Shin Yang Group, Datuk James Ling Lu Kiong. -UKASnews
