KUCHING: A delegation from the Perak State Government led by Perak State Exco for Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Loh Sze Yee paid a courtesy visit to the Sarawak Minister for Transport (MOTS) Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, at his office here on Thursday.

According to a statement by MOTS, the courtesy visit held discussions centred on exploring strategic cooperation between Sarawak and Perak, particularly in the areas of transportation and air connectivity, including the potential establishment of direct AirBorneo flights linking Sarawak and Ipoh.

“During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on Sarawak’s transport development strategies and ongoing initiatives aimed at supporting sustainable growth and enhancing regional connectivity,” it said on Thursday.

Dato Sri Lee shared that his Ministry oversees the development of land, air and maritime transportation, with a strong emphasis on building a future-ready and integrated transport ecosystem.

Among the key initiatives highlighted were the recent launch of operations of Sarawak-owned airline AirBorneo, as well as the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system, which is currently under active construction.

He noted that Sarawak’s ART system is the first hydrogen-powered ART system outside of China, adding that the feeder bus services supporting the ART network are also hydrogen-powered.

“To enhance long-term sustainability and cost efficiency, Sarawak is moving towards producing its own hydrogen, alongside continuous research and development efforts to further reduce energy costs,” he said.

He emphasised that the Sarawak Government remains committed to long-term planning, innovation and sustainable transport solutions.

“Sarawak’s transport initiatives have attracted increasing interest, with previous visits by delegations from the Penang State Government, the Johor State Government, as well as representatives from Brunei, Indonesia and the Netherlands, many of whom had visited and experienced the ART system firsthand,” he added.

Meanwhile, Loh said that Sarawak’s rapid development in recent years has drawn widespread attention, prompting the Perak State Government to visit Sarawak for direct engagement and mutual sharing.

He noted that Sarawak and Perak share many similarities and expressed interest in exchanging ideas with Sarawak, while exploring how both states can move forward together.

Loh also expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen relations between the Sarawak Government and the Perak State Government, paving the way for closer cooperation that would bring mutual benefits in economic development, tourism growth and inter-state relations. -UKASnews