KUCHING: Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) fares will be heavily subsidised by the Sarawak government to ensure the service remains affordable while supporting a modern and sustainable public transport system.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said public transport is an essential public service that requires government support, noting that successful transport systems around the world cannot rely solely on passenger fares to sustain their operations.
“The government has to subsidise. The government will support our public transport system because it is meant for the public,” he said at the Station Naming Rights Signing Ceremony between Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd and IBRACO Berhad here today.
He said successful public transport systems also diversify their revenue through commercial initiatives such as advertising, retail spaces, property development and station naming rights, strengthening their financial sustainability while enabling continuous improvements in service quality.
Asked later after the programme by reporters about the proposed ART fares, Abang Johari said the service would be “highly subsidised”, with the government bearing the system’s fixed operating costs to keep travel affordable for both residents and visitors.
He explained that the government had carefully calculated the operating costs to ensure the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) remains financially sustainable without placing an undue burden on passengers.
“I have calculated it. There are fixed costs, and those fixed costs will be borne by the government,” he said.
Abang Johari said the state would benchmark ART fares against comparable rail transit systems elsewhere while striving to make them even more affordable.
“I think we will benchmark what is being offered in other places, but I will try to make it even cheaper,” he said.
He said affordable fares would encourage greater use of public transport among residents and visitors while supporting the state’s efforts to improve urban mobility and reduce traffic congestion across Greater Kuching.
