By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 13: A new BAS.MY Kuching route connecting the Open Air Market to Muara Tebas with 52 stops along a 34-kilometre stretch officially began operations today, offering commuters in Kuching greater accessibility and convenience.
According to a media release, the ninth BAS.MY Kuching route was launched this morning during a site visit by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong Wui Wui, together with Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) chairman Michael Kong and director Cornelia Wong.
Six newly deployed buses, all equipped with disabled-friendly (OKU) features, will serve the route, catering to residents, students, and workers along one of the city’s key commuter corridors.
Kong highlighted that the route is expected to be popular among commuters heading to local attractions such as Bako and Muara Tebas.
“With the increasing popularity of these areas as tourism and recreational destinations, we are optimistic about strong demand for this service,” he said in a statement.
He also noted the route’s potential to benefit residents of Bintawa, including neighbourhoods such as Taman Riverview and PR1MA Bintawa.
“In light of this, we are actively exploring how the route can be fine-tuned to better serve the local community. As always, our focus remains on improving accessibility, reducing congestion, and providing safe, reliable, and efficient public transport options for all,” Kong added.
The Q09B route operates from 5.30am to 7.45pm on weekdays, with buses running hourly and every 30 minutes during peak hours. On weekends, the service runs from 6am to 8pm.
Fares range between RM0.90 and RM4.00, depending on travel distance. Payment can be made via debit or credit cards, e-wallets, or cash.
Eligible Malaysians, namely OKU individuals, senior citizens aged 60 and above, school students, and university students, can enjoy free rides by using the BAS.MY Concession Card.
Malaysians are also encouraged to purchase the RM50 BAS.MY 30-Day Pass for unlimited travel on all BAS.MY Kuching routes throughout the month.
The introduction of route Q09B brings the total number of fully operational BAS.MY Kuching routes to nine since the initiative was launched on March 5 this year.
The Ministry of Transport Malaysia (MOT) and CVLB Sarawak urge the public, especially those living or working along the route, to take full advantage of this reliable, accessible public transportation option as part of wider efforts to ease traffic congestion in Kuching’s city centre. — DayakDaily
