Miri: Business Gateway
At the final stop, in Miri, the Sarawak Roadtour with CAM CO-STAR was met by Mr Donald Pang Kang Leung, who is the Sarawak Car Dealer Association’s President He told Asian Buses that associations play a vital role in supporting and Representing vehicle dealers’ interests in discussions with government authorities involving to regulations, taxes or policies. “Representing the whole of Sarawak, the association aims to ensure standard operating procedures and ethical business practices among our members,” he said. He too, would like to encourage members to be heavily involved in workshops or training related to sales, after-sales service or changes in automotive laws.
Recently, reports reached us about new technology being trialed in road transportation. Some say that East Malaysia can be seen as more open to new technologies. Sarawak is currently taking the lead nationally in hydrogen and EV development through initiatives by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) as well as Sarawak Metro.
For example, Sarawak operates hydrogen-powered buses in Kuching which is first of its kind in Southeast Asia. This is made possible by the Hydrogen production plant and refuelling Station in Kuching (opened in 2019), positioning the state as a hub for hydrogen economy development. Sarawak has a surplus of clean hydropower, which makes green hydrogen and EVs more sustainable and cost-effective than in other regions relying on fossil fuels.
Further, the Sarawak government is also working on developing hydrogen fuel cell-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) vehicles for its Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), with operations expected by 2026. East Malaysia’s infrastructure development agenda includes smart city and smart mobility components supported by both the federal and state governments, often backed by foreign investors (e.g., South Korean, Japanese, and Chinese energy/tech firms).
While the region is positioning itself as a green hydrogen exporter, with pilot export partnerships already in motion (e.g., to South Korea and Japan) one has to bear in mind that Sarawak is still having limited charging / refuelling infrastructure. Those eager to implement new drive-train technologies are hoping that Sarawak’s government would speed up the establishment of this facilities.
