In his most recent announcement, Datuk Amar Abang Johari stated that construction of the LRT line between Serian and Damai would begin in 3 years’ time. This is a marked departure from his earlier announcement—just days earlier—that an LRT system connecting Kuching, Samarahan and Serian will be ready by 2020.
I wonder if Abang Johari himself is confused and does not know what he is saying.
- The purpose of an LRT system is to alleviate traffic congestion. If Abang Johari sincerely wishes to solve the problem of traffic congestion, why is he proposing an LRT line between Serian and Damai (where population is low) and leave the problem of traffic congestion in Kuching unresolved?
- An LRT system is suitable only in urban areas that are densely populated, and is never meant as an intercity transport service. The distance between Serian and Damai is at least 80km, longer than the distance of the initially proposed Kuching-Samarahan-Serian LRT system (60km). By conservative estimates, the construction cost of the Serian-Damai trunk line will hit an astronomical figure of at least RM25 billion.
- If Abang Johari’s intention is to build a high-speed rail (HSR) system to improve intercity connectivity instead of an LRT system to alleviate traffic congestion in cities, then the HSR system must connect the various cities and towns in Sarawak to be effective. What is Abang Johari’s true intention in building only one LRT trunk line between Serian and Damai? If his plan is to build an HSR system, then build one that connects all cities and towns in Sarawak. On the contrary, if the goal is fixing bad traffic, then the government should set up an LRT system that is supported by a network of effective bus services in city areas.
As it currently stands, Abang Johari’s proposed public transport infrastructure is like a Frankenstein-esque system that is neither HSR nor LRT. I wonder where he learns this public transport system from and what it is called.