TRANSIT took note of interesting information about the opening of Kuching Sentral, a bus terminal located at 6th mile, Jalan Penrissen, a short distance from Kuching Airport and the old Sarawak Government Railway Corridor. The terminal was supposed to open in December 2010 but the projected open date is now March 2012.
12 January 2012
by Peter Sibon, reporters@theborneopost.com
PROJECT INSPECTION: Syed Hamid (centre) touring Kuching Sentral with Ghazali (right) and Hasbi Habibollah (left), chairman of the state Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB). — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa. Image courtesy of The Borneo Post.
KUCHING: The RM100-million Regional Bus Terminal known as Kuching Sentral located at Mile 6, Jalan Penrissen will provide a new dimension for public transport services in the state, said the chairman of Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.
He added that with the completion of the complex, Kuching has moved upward in providing an integrated public transport as well as a business hub.
“This new complex will provide a new dimension in providing services to members of the public especially for bus services and business opportunities. It should be well patronised,” Syed Hamid told the media after making a working visit to Kuching Sentral here yesterday.
He was also optimistic that the request by the developer of the project, Permodalan Assar Sdn Bhd (PASB), for an additional sum of RM17.9 million would be approved by the federal government.
“They have mentioned (the request) to us. SPAD is not fully integrated into Sarawak and Sabah. Though I can’t commit, I am sure they have access (to the federal government),” he said.
Syed Hamid also disclosed that SPAD had not fully spread its network to both Sarawak and Sabah, thus needing more time for it to build its base here so as to provide better facilities for the public.
PASB general manager Ghazali Ismail said the new bus terminal would fully be operational in March while other business outlets in the complex would start their operations soon.
Though the project was slightly delayed, he was happy that the contractor was committed to finishing it.
The complex is owned by Kuching Sentral Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of PASB, a state government-link company.
Strategically located two minutes away from Kuching International Airport, Kuching Sentral will form a new hub for the transportation industry and will cater for regional express buses travelling on daily routes to Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Pontinak, Brunei and Sabah.
[TRANSIT: And let’s also introduce a bus service linking Kuching Sentral, the Kuching Airport, and the Waterfront]
It will be able to accommodate about 12,000 passengers when fully operational.
It is an integrated complex with retail stores, hypermarkets, food court, kiosks, restaurants and international fast food outlets.
Public facilities comprise bus bays, car and motorcycles parks, taxi stands, commercial van bays, luggage facilities services, surau, ticketing counters and an air-conditioned waiting area.
Other facilities include Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and closed circuit television (CCTV) and LCD panels to display the arrivals and departures of buses.
Kuching Sentral will be a modern air-conditioned bus terminal with peoples’ comfort in mind.
TRANSIT Says:
We are just sharing more information about the Kuching Sentral terminal and hope that in the near future, Kuching Sentral will be integrated into the Kuching area public transport network, and ultimately, the planned Kuching BRT network.
And once again, we cannot help but make another statement about what we would like to see – a modern tram running along the old Sarawak Government Railway corridor, linking Kuching Sentral to the Airport and waterfront, and eventually crossing the river to Petra Jaya.
Until then, enjoy some great photos of Kuching Sentral, a nice video, and an update in Bahasa Malaysia. According to the video there will be 67 spaces for local buses, as well as space for taxi & kereta sewa and 400 parking spaces. On top of all that, Kuching Sentral is also a 3-storey shopping mall.
7 replies on “Kuching Sentral to open in March, 2012”
67 spaces for city buses? but didn’t see they mentioned it during the opening…forgot what they have promised?
@theSpringzzz
That number came from the original video – perhaps the final numbers may be different when the station is actually opened.
In any case, we would certainly be interested to know what SPAD, the Sarawak CVLB & Sarawak Government (and probably Rapid Kuching) have planned for public transport in the Kuching area.
Regards, Moaz for TRANSIT
2 minutes away from the airport ON FOOT or by other means? How ezy by other means…how convenience?
@theSpringzzz
Two minutes from the airport is probably based on driving – the distance between the two is probably closer to 800m or so, which the average able-bodied adult would take about 5-8 minutes, maybe more.
At this time we do not whether there is any connecting shuttle bus between the Airport & Kuching Sentral, or how much the taxi drivers will charge to take passengers between the two.
As for bus service to Kuching Sentral, there must be some bus or van service between Kuching & Kota Sentosa.
Regards, Moaz for TRANSIT
how to go to malacca? is there any bus or ktm that could lead me direct to malacca. and if there is in both way, which is easier? if there only way to go there is by bus hopping, which bus should i go on and which route should i go through?
@aqilah
Where are you starting your journey from? If KL, there are buses to Malacca from Bandar Tasik Selatan bus terminal, at the Bandar Tasik Selatan transit hub.
If you are coming from the west of the Klang Valley, there are buses from USJ (Metrobus). If you are in the south Klang Valley, consider taking the KTM to Seremban and getting a bus from the bus terminal.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Moaz for TRANSIT
You cannot walk to the airport from Kuching Sentral, especially if you have any luggage. In addition, neither buses or vans are allowed to stop at the airport, so there is no public connection to the airport from Kuching Sentral. Thus it is only a short distance to the airport only if you are driving. But why would I be driving if I am taking the bus to Kuching Sentral. Should I put my car in the bus luggage rack?
And also, no, there is no city bus connection at Kuching Sentral. Yes, since it is a bus station, you would think they would have buses stop there. But no. There is a bus stop about 200 meters down the road opposite Kuching Sentral. To get there, you have to walk through the parking lot, then cross a 4-lane highway that has no traffic lights for pedestrian crossing.
OK what if you take a taxi or have someone pick you up? There is no easy access road in and out of a pickup point there. To enter and exit the place, you have to drive through the parking lot, which is usually packed for shoppers.
Also, Kuching Sentral is not sentral. It is not in the center of Kuching. It is incredibly inconvenient. It doesn’t even achieve basic conveniences that a bus station is supposed to have. It is a shopping centre built for people who drive, with a bus terminal tacked on as an afterthought.
Transit Malaysia 
7 replies on “Kuching Sentral to open in March, 2012”
67 spaces for city buses? but didn’t see they mentioned it during the opening…forgot what they have promised?
@theSpringzzz
That number came from the original video – perhaps the final numbers may be different when the station is actually opened.
In any case, we would certainly be interested to know what SPAD, the Sarawak CVLB & Sarawak Government (and probably Rapid Kuching) have planned for public transport in the Kuching area.
Regards, Moaz for TRANSIT
2 minutes away from the airport ON FOOT or by other means? How ezy by other means…how convenience?
@theSpringzzz
Two minutes from the airport is probably based on driving – the distance between the two is probably closer to 800m or so, which the average able-bodied adult would take about 5-8 minutes, maybe more.
At this time we do not whether there is any connecting shuttle bus between the Airport & Kuching Sentral, or how much the taxi drivers will charge to take passengers between the two.
As for bus service to Kuching Sentral, there must be some bus or van service between Kuching & Kota Sentosa.
Regards, Moaz for TRANSIT
how to go to malacca? is there any bus or ktm that could lead me direct to malacca. and if there is in both way, which is easier? if there only way to go there is by bus hopping, which bus should i go on and which route should i go through?
@aqilah
Where are you starting your journey from? If KL, there are buses to Malacca from Bandar Tasik Selatan bus terminal, at the Bandar Tasik Selatan transit hub.
If you are coming from the west of the Klang Valley, there are buses from USJ (Metrobus). If you are in the south Klang Valley, consider taking the KTM to Seremban and getting a bus from the bus terminal.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Moaz for TRANSIT
You cannot walk to the airport from Kuching Sentral, especially if you have any luggage. In addition, neither buses or vans are allowed to stop at the airport, so there is no public connection to the airport from Kuching Sentral. Thus it is only a short distance to the airport only if you are driving. But why would I be driving if I am taking the bus to Kuching Sentral. Should I put my car in the bus luggage rack?
And also, no, there is no city bus connection at Kuching Sentral. Yes, since it is a bus station, you would think they would have buses stop there. But no. There is a bus stop about 200 meters down the road opposite Kuching Sentral. To get there, you have to walk through the parking lot, then cross a 4-lane highway that has no traffic lights for pedestrian crossing.
OK what if you take a taxi or have someone pick you up? There is no easy access road in and out of a pickup point there. To enter and exit the place, you have to drive through the parking lot, which is usually packed for shoppers.
Also, Kuching Sentral is not sentral. It is not in the center of Kuching. It is incredibly inconvenient. It doesn’t even achieve basic conveniences that a bus station is supposed to have. It is a shopping centre built for people who drive, with a bus terminal tacked on as an afterthought.