Public transportation users in Greater Kuching received a major boost on May 9, 2026, as the Ministry of Transport officially launched six new BAS.MY Kuching routes aimed at improving connectivity across Kuching, Samarahan and Serian.
The launch ceremony was officiated by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook at The Summer Mall, Kota Samarahan, marking another milestone in Sarawak’s expanding public transportation network.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the additional routes were introduced following public demand and ridership assessments to better connect residential areas, educational institutions, commercial hubs and major public facilities.
Six New BAS.MY Kuching Routes Introduced
The newly launched routes are:
- Q11 – Arang Road
- Q12 – Taman Hui Sing
- Q13 – Siburan
- Q14 – Summer Mall
- Q15 – Stutong Baru / Kuching Sentral
- Q16 – Taman Sukma
The expansion is expected to improve daily mobility for residents while also supporting local economic activity in rapidly developing suburban areas around Kuching and Samarahan.
Two of the routes, Q11 and Q12, will operate from Saujana Bus Terminal, while routes including Q16 will operate from the Kuching Open Air Market terminal.
During his speech, Anthony Loke encouraged more residents to make public transportation part of their daily routine.
He said small changes in commuting habits could significantly reduce traffic congestion and contribute towards a more sustainable urban environment in Kuching and surrounding areas. The minister also reiterated the federal government’s commitment towards improving public transport accessibility in Sarawak.
The Ministry of Transport, through the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) Sarawak, stated that the new routes were designed after taking into account requests from the local community.
Expanded Concession Cards For Students And Trainees
One of the biggest announcements during the launch was the expansion of the BAS.MY concession card programme.
Previously limited to school students aged seven to 17, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, the concession card will now also include Form Six students and trainees at government-owned training institutes nationwide.
For Kuching and Samarahan alone, the initiative is expected to benefit approximately 2,350 Form Six students and more than 3,200 trainees.
The concession card allows eligible users to travel for free on BAS.MY services, while the monthly unlimited travel pass for Malaysian citizens remains at RM30 after being reduced from RM50 earlier.
Anthony Loke also assured the public that BAS.MY fares would remain unchanged despite global fuel price uncertainties as the government continues subsidising operational costs.
Nearly 850,000 Passengers Recorded
The BAS.MY Kuching service continues to see strong ridership growth since operations first began in March 2025.
As of April 2026, a total of 847,644 passengers have utilised the service in Kuching and surrounding areas. Meanwhile, more than 15,000 people have registered as BAS.MY concession card holders.
During the launch event, operators also offered free concession card registrations to the first 300 participants attending the ceremony.
The introduction of additional routes reflects the growing importance of public transportation in Kuching as the city expands beyond its traditional urban core.
Areas such as Siburan, Samarahan, Batu Kawa and Stutong have seen increasing residential and commercial development in recent years, creating stronger demand for reliable and affordable bus services.
The BAS.MY network has also become an important alternative for students, workers and residents seeking lower transportation costs amid rising living expenses.
The History Of BAS.MY In Kuching
BAS.MY Kuching officially began operations on March 5, 2025 under the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) programme introduced by the federal government.
Initially serving routes connecting Kuching, Bau, Serian, Bako, Batu Kawa and surrounding areas, the service aimed to modernise Sarawak’s aging stage bus network using newer air-conditioned buses with cashless payment systems.
Since its launch, the network has gradually expanded based on passenger demand and ridership trends.
With the addition of six new routes in April 2026, BAS.MY Kuching now serves major residential, educational and commercial zones across Kuching, Samarahan, Siburan and Serian, strengthening public transport accessibility in southern Sarawak.
Info Sources:
- The Borneo Post article on BAS.MY Kuching routes
- Malay Mail report on concession card expansion
- Utusan Malaysia report on BAS.MY concession cards
- DayakDaily report on route restructuring
- KuchingBorneo Bas.MY route guide
- BAS.MY KUCHING Facebook
