Stage bus services to be expanded to Sibu, Bintulu, Miri following strong response in Kuching

Loke (fifth left) together with other distinguished guests posing with the pink bus at the launch of the Kuching BAS.MY new routes at Summer Mall in Kota Samarahan on May 9, 2026.

By Wilfred Pilo

KOTA SAMARAHAN, May 9: The next phase of the Ministry of Transport’s (MOT) Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) in Sarawak will focus on expanding BAS.MY services to other major cities, including Sibu, Bintulu and Miri, following the successful rollout in Kuching.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the expansion marks a key step in improving public transport connectivity across Sarawak, building on the strong response to the programme in Kuching since its introduction.

The newly operational routes, which began service on April 1, 2026, are Laluan Q11 (Arang Road), Q12 (Taman Hui Sing), Q13 (Siburan), Q14 (Summer Mall), Q15 (Stutong Baru/Kuching Sentral), and Q16 (Taman Sukma), all under the SBST initiative.

Loke also announced a reduction in the 30-day unlimited travel pass from RM50 to RM30 for Malaysian citizens holding the BAS.MY concession card, bringing the average daily travel cost down to about RM1.

He added that free rides are extended to school students aged 7 to 17, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (OKU), and university students who are BAS.MY concession card holders.

“The government has also approved the expansion of the BAS.MY concession scheme to include Form Six students and trainees at government-owned training institutes,” he said at the launch of six new BAS.MY stage bus routes in Kuching held at Summer Mall today.

He informed that in Kuching and Samarahan alone, the move is expected to benefit about 2,350 Form Six students and more than 3,200 trainees.

Since its rollout on March 5, 2025, the SBST programme in Kuching has operated 56 BAS.MY buses, which Loke said have received strong public response.

“As of April 2026, a total of 847,644 passengers have used the service, while 15,283 individuals have registered for the concession card,” he said.

He also noted that Sarawakians can use their BAS.MY concession cards nationwide, provided they re-register in the respective cities where the service operates.

Loke added that Johor Bahru currently records the highest BAS.MY ridership in the country, with around 700 buses operating nationwide under the programme.

The BAS.MY service in Kuching is operated by Biaramas Sdn Bhd.

“The implementation of BAS.MY in Kuching is not only about replacing old buses, but also about introducing modern facilities and improved routes that benefit the wider community,” he said.

Also present at the launch were Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, MOT secretary-general Datuk Seri Jana Sathiran Muniayan, Sarawak MOT permanent secretary Datu Wong Hee Sieng, Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) Sarawak chairman Michal Kong and Biaramas Express Sdn Bhd managing director Lai Sin Kiong. — DayakDaily