KOTA KINABALU: The city’s long-awaited modern bus service, BAS.MY, will begin trial runs by September or October with three newly arrived pink buses.
Sabah Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister cum Coordinating Minister for Public Transport, Phoong Jin Zhe, said the trial aims to familiarise drivers with routes and prepare City Hall.
Public awareness campaigns will also start, with free rides for senior citizens, students, and persons with disabilities via concession cards.
The Stage Bus Services Transformation (SBST) programme will eventually deploy 48 buses across eight routes and 143 stops, with full operations targeted after Chinese New Year 2026.
The air-conditioned buses feature GPS, CCTV, and a cashless ticketing system. Phoong said this milestone marks years of effort to modernise Kota Kinabalu’s public transport and will improve connectivity for residents, students and tourists alike.
