KUCHING: Sarawak is moving closer to realising a modern, low-carbon public transport system, as operational trials of hydrogen buses conducted since 2020 have demonstrated the state’s strong readiness ahead of the large-scale rollout of the Kuching Urban Transportation System in the second half of 2026.
Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Datuk Seri Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel said the trials not only showcased maturity in terms of technology and infrastructure, but also reflected the state’s capability in developing human capital to support its green transport transformation.
Following a visit to the Sarawak Metro hydrogen bus facility, he said it provided a clear indication that the KUTS project is now in a convincing state of readiness for large-scale implementation.
“Since 2020, the hydrogen bus trials have achieved their main objective of collecting critical operational and technical data in preparation for larger-scale operations by 2026.
“This further strengthens confidence that Sarawak is on the right track to implement an efficient and sustainable low-carbon public transport system,” he said during the visit on Monday (Mar 30).
He added that the trial period has also shown significant improvements in operational readiness, reinforcing the state’s capability to manage a large-scale transport system such as KUTS.
“These findings not only enhance technical aspects, but also strengthen strategic planning, management, and implementation of future public transport projects,” he added.
Throughout the trial period, three hydrogen buses operated along key routes, including from Kuching city centre to Damai Central, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology in real-world conditions.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Metro clarified that the pilot buses will not be used in daily KUTS operations due to differences in design and specifications compared to the actual fleet.
However, the buses are currently being considered for alternative roles to continue contributing to the development of the state’s public transport ecosystem.
Beyond technical aspects, the project has also strengthened organisational management capabilities, including contract management and asset lifecycle planning, ensuring comprehensive readiness ahead of the KUTS implementation.
