KOTA SAMARAHAN: Kota Samarahan could one day attain city status, with the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) potentially being upgraded into a city hall as the division continues its rapid urban expansion.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said Samarahan has effectively become part of Greater Kuching and possesses all the ingredients to emerge as one of Sarawak’s major urban centres.
“I believe one day MPKS will become a city hall when it reaches a certain stage of development.
“We do not even know where the boundaries will eventually be because housing developments continue to expand,” he said when officiating the Samarahan Food and Cultural Festival (SFCF) 2026 at MPKS Tamu Market site in Desa Ilmu on behalf of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Saturday night.
Abdul Karim said the transformation of Samarahan over the past three decades has been remarkable, changing from a relatively underdeveloped area once accessible mainly by river transport into one of the fastest-growing regions in Sarawak.
He noted that the proliferation of residential areas, the establishment of higher learning institutions such as Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), as well as major infrastructure projects, have accelerated the division’s growth.
The Asajaya assemblyman also said the proposed new international airport in Samarahan would further strengthen the area’s economic prospects and significantly boost MPKS’ future revenue through assessment rates.
“When the new airport comes up, the new buildings, warehouses and aircraft hangars will all contribute in terms of assessment rates to MPKS. That is why one day MPKS can become a very large and well-organised local authority,” he said.
Abdul Karim added that the proposed airport, together with the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system and other infrastructure developments, would further cement Samarahan’s position as an important urban and economic hub within Greater Kuching.
He said the state government is already putting in place long-term planning to ensure that roads, commercial areas, public amenities and recreational facilities in Samarahan are developed in an orderly and sustainable manner to accommodate future population growth.
Abdul Karim also attributed the area’s rapid development to the state’s prudent financial management, which has enabled Sarawak to implement major infrastructure projects and development initiatives without having to wait for federal allocations.
He said the rapid pace of development in Samarahan would continue in the years ahead as more infrastructure and urban projects are implemented.
