KUCHING: The people of Kota Samarahan want and look forward to the implementation of the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) project because it will surely help shorten the travelling time from Kota Samarahan to Kuching and back, Samarahan District Council chairman Datuk Peter Minos said yesterday.
He was responding to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s statement on the LRT project recently.
Speaking to reporters after the launch of the Sarawak Pay application at KK Super Mart at Kota Sentosa last Saturday, Abang Johari had said that for now, the proposal remained a proposal until the people asked for it and those against it could not make any more issues out of it.
“I believe the LRT project from Kuching to Kota Samarahan is very much welcome and it is very convenient for everyone to travel.
“Just imagine, the combined student and staff population of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) alone is over 50,000 and we have over 40,000 residential houses in Kota Samarahan district here,” he said.
Minos argued that those opposing it could say what they wanted but “we at Samarahan District Council and Kota Samarahan really need the LRT. As the council chairman, I really support the LRT project.”
The road users of Kota Samarahan, he added, were very desperate for help to tackle the traffic congestion situation they faced every day, especially during peak hours.
“We, at the council, and the residents of Kota Samarahan are very happy and grateful to hear that the government will soon upgrade Jalan Mohd Musa, which runs from Mile 9 Kuching-Serian Road to Kota Samarahan, at a cost of RM228.4 million.
“This was announced and approved by the chief minister last year during the second anniversary dinner of the council,” he added.
According to Minos, during the current state assembly sitting, Coastal Road Assistant Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi also revealed that the total cost of the Samarahan project would amount to RM228.4 million and that work was expected to begin at the end of August.
The project would take 36 months to complete.
Minos said the people of Samarahan were very happy and relieved that the government would be putting up five additional traffic lights (three at the Kota Samarahan roundabout and another two at Stutong and Tabuan Tranquility roundabouts).
“The installation of five traffic lights at these five roundabouts, from in front of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) to Stutong, will ease the terrible traffic congestion that the people of Samarahan face daily,” he added.
