Latest news with #SarawakMetroSdnBhd
Borneo Post
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
ART: Tmn Stutong Indah residents claim KUTS contractors sought use of home electricity for construction activities
Taman Stutong Indah residents voice their grievances to Lam (right) during his visit. KUCHING (July 29): The Kuching Urban Transformation System's (KUTS) contractors undertaking the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project at Taman Stutong Indah here had allegedly requested to use electricity from a resident's home to support construction activities, said George Lam. The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak secretary said this was brought to his attention by the residents concerned, prompting him to visit the site. 'This is highly unprofessional and unacceptable,' he said in a statement issued yesterday following the visit. Lam said according to the residents at Taman Stutong Indah, they were not given any prior notice about the construction works. 'There was no official communication regarding the timeline, alignment, and expected disturbances. 'The residents are experiencing ongoing disturbances including noise from machinery and dust. These disruptions are affecting their daily lives and privacy.' He added that based on his observations during the visit, the construction area was not properly secured, while heavy machinery were operating 'very close to the residential area without clear barriers or warning signs to protect the public'. In addition, Lam said large construction lorries were crossing the main road regularly without proper traffic control, creating a dangerous environment for road users in the area. 'At a point of the construction, there was a sudden road blockage without any prior notification, creating confusion and inconvenience. 'As such, I urge the KUTS project undertaker, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd, to temporarily halt this construction until a mutual consent is achieved between the residents and the responsible parties,' he said.
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
Sarawak Metro must take action against KUTS contractors over pipe damage, says Dapsy man
A photo taken on Wednesday shows the murky water. KUCHING (July 25): The Kuching Urban Transformation System's (KUTS) project undertaker, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd must investigate, penalise and blacklist irresponsible contractors who caused the recent pipeline damage, said Wong King Yii. The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak treasurer also called upon the Kuching Water Board to take prompt action to ensure residents in affected areas have access to clean water. 'I am dismayed by the repeated pipeline damage caused by contractors working under the KUTS project. 'These incidents have disrupted water supply to thousands of residents in Tabuan Jaya, Samarahan and nearby areas as a result of negligence and poor supervision,' he said in a statement today. KWB said a 12-inch asbestos cement water main near Jalan Wan Alwi was damaged on July 22 while a 200mm ductile iron main at Desa Ilmu was also damaged during construction on July 18. Wong said KWB must strive to resolve the long-standing murky water issues in other parts of Kuching, especially in Green Road and Jalan Song. According to him, the board has repeatedly promised to fix the murky water problem in Green Road but residents there continue to face murky, discoloured water. In Jalan Song, he said the situation is equally bad with residents recently experiencing either murky water or no water supply at all. 'Some were forced to shower at hotels just to get through the day. This is not just an inconvenience – it's a failure in basic service delivery. 'What makes matters worse is that the transboundary haze is already happening. With temperatures rising and air quality declining, access to clean and uninterrupted water supply is more critical than ever. 'The last thing people need in this weather is to deal with brown water or dry taps,' he lamented. Wong said development means nothing if basic utilities like clean water cannot be guaranteed. Given this, he said those responsible, be it contractor negligence or agency inaction, must be held accountable. 'Sarawakians deserve reliable infrastructure, not recurring disruptions and vague assurances,' he added.
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak Metro tightens protocols after utility disruptions during KUTS works
In a statement, Sarawak Metro said it remains committed to minimising service interruptions as the KUTS project enters its peak construction phase. – File photo KUCHING (July 25): Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd is reviewing and tightening operational protocols to improve coordination with contractors, boost on-site supervision, and prevent further disruptions to utility services during construction works. In a statement today, the company said it remains committed to minimising service interruptions as the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project enters its peak construction phase. 'We are fully committed to minimising disruptions to utility services, especially at this critical stage of the KUTS project,' said Sarawak Metro. The statement was issued in response to recent pipeline damage incidents by the Kuching Water Board (KWB), involving underground pipelines along Jalan Datuk Muhammad Musa in Kota Samarahan and Jalan Wan Alwi in Kuching. The damage, caused by excavation works linked to the KUTS project, had disrupted water supply to nearby residential areas. Sarawak Metro expressed regret over the incidents and extended its sincere apologies to the affected communities in the inconvenience caused. The company said it had worked closely with the involved contractors and KWB to carry out immediate repair works and restored water supply as quickly as possible. Sarawak Metro also reiterated that it continues to engage closely with all relevant utility providers and their contractors – particularly prior to excavation activities near underground utility assets – to ensure preventive measures are in place. 'We are taking steps to enhance coordination and oversight to prevent similar issues in the future,' the company stressed. It also expressed appreciation to government agencies and utility providers for their cooperation, as well as to the public for their patience and support in realising a green public transport system for Greater Kuching. KUTS operational protocols Sarawak Metro utility disruptions
The Star
4 days ago
- General
- The Star
S'wak Metro taking steps to avoid further utility damage during KUTS construction
KUCHING: Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd is reviewing and strengthening operational protocols to prevent a recurrence of utility damage in the construction of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project. The company said the review included improving coordination between contractors and enhancing on-site supervision. "Sarawak Metro also continues to engage with the relevant utility providers as well as their respective contractors, especially before any excavation activities are done near underground pipes and cables," it said in a statement on Friday (July 25). This comes after KUTS construction activity accidentally damaged underground pipelines in two incidents this week, disrupting water supply along sections of Jalan Datuk Mohammad Musa in Kota Samarahan and Jalan Wan Alwi in Kuching. On Thursday (July 24), the Kuching Water Board (KWB) urged the KUTS project proponent and its contractors to take full responsibility for the disruptions and implement stricter safety and damage prevention measures during underground works. "KWB has repeatedly cautioned KUTS contractors to exercise extreme care when carrying out excavation or construction near existing water infrastructure. "Despite these warnings, the recurrence of such incidents reflects a serious lack of vigilance, coordination and on-site supervision," it said. Sarawak Metro acknowledged the concerns raised by KWB and reiterated its commitment to minimising disruptions to utility services, particularly as the KUTS project entered its peak construction phase. It also apologised to the affected communities, adding that it worked closely with KWB to carry out immediate repairs and restore services as quickly as possible. "Sarawak Metro greatly appreciates the close cooperation given by all the relevant government agencies and utility providers in ensuring the KUTS project is implemented as smoothly as possible. "We are also grateful for the support and understanding from the public in our efforts to develop the future green public transport system for Greater Kuching," it said.
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Sarawak Metro wins UITP Award for sustainable transport
KUCHING: Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd has received the Special Recognition Award from the Union Internationale des Transports Publics (UITP) at a ceremony held recently in Hamburg, Germany. In a statement today, Sarawak Metro said the award was in acknowledgement of its efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through the implementation of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS). The UITP Global Awards, which drew over 300 entries across nine categories from participants representing 50 countries, recognise excellence in sustainable urban mobility. Sarawak Metro chief executive officer Mazli Mustaffa said being shortlisted as a finalist was already a significant achievement. 'Although I was optimistic about our entry, I felt deeply honoured to learn that Sarawak Metro had been shortlisted as a finalist for this year's UITP Global Awards. 'And now, receiving the UITP Special Recognition Award for the work we are doing is truly a great honour. All of us at Sarawak Metro are humbled by this recognition from such a prestigious organisation,' he said. He added that the international recognition would further motivate the team to realise its vision of delivering a modern and sustainable public transport system for Kuching, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2026. Sarawak Metro is a member of UITP, which was founded in 1885 and is the only global network that brings together all public transport stakeholders and sustainable mobility modes. The UITP Summit is the premier global event for the public transport sector, attracting over 10,000 professionals including operators, authorities, industry suppliers, and policymakers from around the world.
