Ghazali Ismail (right) briefing Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud (third left) and his entourage on Kuching Sentral. With Taib are Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu (fourth left), Dato Sri Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg (fourth right), Dr Abang Haji Abdul Rauf Abang Haji Zen (third right), Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Bujang Mohd Nor (second left), Haji Fadillah Yusuf (second right) and Shamsul Anuar Ahmad Ibrahim. (left).  PHOTO: RAMIDI SUBARI
 
    KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud yesterday unveiled Kuching Sentral (Kuching Integrated Regional Bus Terminal), the city’s latest landmark.

Earthworks on the fully integrated three-storey regional bus terminal commenced in December last year. The RM55 million project, located on a seven-acre site, at Mile 6 1/2 Penrissen Road, is expected to be completed by the end of 2009. It will be only two minutes from the Kuching International Airport (KIA) and 10 minutes from Kuching City centre.

The terminal will be streamlining the city bus transportation system by bringing together the regional buses and the city buses. Daily express buses to and from regional centres like Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, and Miri as well as daily express buses from Pontianak (Indonesia) and Sungai Tujuh (Brunei) will be available, making Kuching Sentral an international transportation hub.

Commuters will find convenience right from the point of arrival as the city buses will offer them a seamless link to any destination within Kuching City and the regional buses will link them to major destinations throughout Sarawak. Alternatively, commuters can choose other options of transport available at Kuching Sentral like taxis. 

The terminal will have 11 car rental bays, 42 bus bays for regional buses and an additional 67 bays for city buses. Additional facilities like luggage storage, premium rest rooms, wifi, Auto Teller Machine (ATM), prayer room and others have been incorporated to ensure a comfortable transit for passengers and shoppers.

The estimated 12,000 daily passengers alighting at the new bus terminal will be greeted with a pleasant  ambience as Kuching Sentral offers 25, 000 sq ft of supermarket, 21,000 sq ft of departmental store together with restaurants, fashion boutiques, beauty and healthcare, gift shops, pharmacy and many more. It will have a total of 152 retail units and more than 30 specialty kiosks to keep shoppers busy.

The fully integrated transportation terminal is part of the State Government’s vision and effort to improve bus services in the city for the convenience and the enjoyment of the people.
Spearheading the development of the Integrated Regional Bus Terminal is Permodalan ASSAR Sdn Bhd (PASB), a company incorporated to enhance the performance of the state unit trust fund, Amanah Saham Sarawak (ASSAR).

Housing a shopping centre with a ready crowd from the inflow of passengers at the terminal itself and being the only shopping centre in the Sentosa region, Kuching Sentral will prove to be a rewarding investment for both investors and retail operators.

The shopping complex, which comes with strata titles for the retail units, is strategically located at the junction of Jalan Penrissen and Airport Road which is being upgraded to a dual-carriageway with traffic lights.