KUCHING – Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam have committed to enhancing cooperation across land, maritime, and aviation transport sectors following a high-level bilateral meeting in Brunei.
The discussions, held during an official visit by Sarawak Minister for Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin from August 25-26, focused on streamlining cross-border connectivity and digitalizing processes to facilitate smoother movement between the two regions.
The delegation, which included Deputy Minister Datuk Dr. Jerip Susil and senior officials, met with Brunei’s Minister of Transport and Infocommunications, Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary Pengiran Dato Paduka Mustapha, and Permanent Secretary Ir. Mohammad Nazri Mohammad Yusof.
Key agenda items included upgrades to border facilities such as the Sungai Tujoh CIQS in Miri, harmonizing vehicle regulations, extending operating hours at checkpoints, and establishing emergency transport protocols.
Brunei also shared details of its Economic Masterplan and upcoming events like the Brunei Darussalam Maritime Week 2025.
Sarawak presented several ongoing initiatives, including the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), the TransBorneo Railway Feasibility Study, and preliminary plans for a new Kuching International Airport with a capacity of 15 million passengers annually.
Dato Sri Lee emphasized that efficient cross-border movement is essential for daily activities like work, education, and tourism, and expressed optimism that collaboration could achieve efficiency comparable to the Johor-Singapore border.
The visit included engagements with industry players such as Royal Brunei Airlines and Gallop Air to explore further partnership opportunities.
