Sarawak reviews BAS.MY routes, eyes unified parking system

KUCHING (March 12): The Sarawak government is reviewing the routes of the BAS.MY bus service here to improve public transport usage, said State Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.

He noted that passenger numbers on several BAS.MY routes remain low despite the service being available.

“Route planning and operations need to be reviewed to better align with the actual travel patterns of users,” he said, according to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report, after chairing the Sarawak Public Transport Committee (SPTC) meeting here on Wednesday.

Lee said improving convenience and efficiency in public transport is key to encouraging people to shift from private vehicles.

He added that authorities have been asked to reassess BAS.MY routes and operations to better meet mobility needs.

At the same meeting, Lee proposed implementing a unified parking payment system across Sarawak to address the inconvenience caused by different parking apps in each town.

“In the future, we should aim for a single parking system that can be used across Sarawak. This will make things easier for the public,” he said.

The SPTC coordinates policies and development initiatives across land, river, and air transport sectors under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

Key challenges discussed include urban traffic congestion, strengthening public transport, modernising river transport, and enhancing air connectivity.

Lee highlighted that major airports such as Kuching and Miri are operating beyond capacity, while several airports and STOLports require upgrades.

The meeting also received briefings on transport projects approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan, including aviation development, BAS.MY operations, and traffic management during the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) construction by Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd.

Among those attending the meeting were Deputy Transport Ministers Datuk Dr Jerip Susil and Datuk Henry Harry Jinep, alongside heads of government agencies, regulatory bodies, and industry stakeholders.