
KK's Stage Bus Service Transformation program to be launched soon
KOTA KINABALU (Aug 9): The Ministry of Transport has officially approved the Kota Kinabalu Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) program, marking a pivotal moment in the city's public transport development.
This initiative aims to introduce a modern, air-conditioned and efficient bus service to Kota Kinabalu, significantly improving the mobility and convenience of residents and visitors alike.
Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister
Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe expressed enthusiasm on the program's impact, emphasizing that this is a much-needed step towards modernizing public transport in Kota Kinabalu.
He highlighted the importance of providing a reliable, safe and comfortable bus service to ease traffic congestion and promote a more sustainable urban environment.
'The launch of the SBST in Kota Kinabalu is a momentous occasion for the city. We are responding to the growing demand for better transportation options, and this program will deliver exactly that,' said Phoong.
Earlier this year, the Chief Minister of Sabah entrusted Phoong as the Coordinating Minister for Public Transport in Kota Kinabalu, with the crucial task of aligning efforts across various ministries and agencies to make the modern bus system a reality.
As part of this effort, Phoong has been working closely with Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah, Sabah Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board chairperson Vivian Wong, and several local agencies including DBKK, JPJ, LPKP, to ensure the successful refurbishment of bus stop infrastructure, particularly in high-traffic areas like the airport and hospitals.
The new bus system will feature eight main routes, covering key locations such as the city centre, airport, Luyang, Likas, Tanjung Aru and Putatan, with a total of 155 bus stops. KK Sentral will serve as the main hub for the system.
The modern system will include an electronic ticketing system for easy fare payment, onboard GPS tracking for real-time location updates, fixed routes and schedules to ensure punctuality, and a reliable service aimed at meeting the needs of daily commuters.
One of the routes will connect KK Sentral to vital areas including Karamunsing, High Court, Luyang New Wong Kwok, Foh Sang, Damai, Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School, Likas Sports Complex, SICC, and the city centre, forming a convenient loop for passengers.
Following the successful launch in Kota Kinabalu, the Ministry of Transport plans to expand the SBST program to other areas in Sabah, including Sandakan and Tawau, in the next phase of development.
'This is just the beginning,' said Phoong. 'We have a clear vision to enhance public transport across the state, and I am confident that the SBST program will contribute significantly to improving urban living and transport efficiency.'
The first route is expected to be rolled out soon, with the full implementation of all routes set for completion by next year.
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Daily Express
6 days ago
- Daily Express
SBST programme set to modernise KK bus services
Published on: Saturday, August 09, 2025 Published on: Sat, Aug 09, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The Transport Ministry has approved the Kota Kinabalu Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) programme to modernise and improve the city's public transport system. The initiative will introduce air-conditioned, efficient bus services aimed at enhancing mobility and convenience for both residents and visitors. Advertisement Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe ( pic ) said the programme is a timely step towards providing reliable, safe and comfortable public transport in Kota Kinabalu. He said the SBST would help reduce traffic congestion, promote sustainable urban mobility and meet the growing demand for better transport options. As the Coordinating Minister for Public Transport in the City, Phoong has been working with local leaders and agencies to refurbish bus stops, especially in high-traffic areas such as the airport and hospitals. The new system will feature eight main routes, 155 bus stops, electronic ticketing, onboard GPS tracking and fixed schedules, with KK Sentral as the central hub. Advertisement Phoong said the first route will be launched soon, with all routes expected to be operational by next year, and future expansions planned for Sandakan and Tawau. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Borneo Post
KK's Stage Bus Service Transformation program to be launched soon
Phoong KOTA KINABALU (Aug 9): The Ministry of Transport has officially approved the Kota Kinabalu Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) program, marking a pivotal moment in the city's public transport development. This initiative aims to introduce a modern, air-conditioned and efficient bus service to Kota Kinabalu, significantly improving the mobility and convenience of residents and visitors alike. Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe expressed enthusiasm on the program's impact, emphasizing that this is a much-needed step towards modernizing public transport in Kota Kinabalu. He highlighted the importance of providing a reliable, safe and comfortable bus service to ease traffic congestion and promote a more sustainable urban environment. 'The launch of the SBST in Kota Kinabalu is a momentous occasion for the city. We are responding to the growing demand for better transportation options, and this program will deliver exactly that,' said Phoong. Earlier this year, the Chief Minister of Sabah entrusted Phoong as the Coordinating Minister for Public Transport in Kota Kinabalu, with the crucial task of aligning efforts across various ministries and agencies to make the modern bus system a reality. As part of this effort, Phoong has been working closely with Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah, Sabah Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board chairperson Vivian Wong, and several local agencies including DBKK, JPJ, LPKP, to ensure the successful refurbishment of bus stop infrastructure, particularly in high-traffic areas like the airport and hospitals. The new bus system will feature eight main routes, covering key locations such as the city centre, airport, Luyang, Likas, Tanjung Aru and Putatan, with a total of 155 bus stops. KK Sentral will serve as the main hub for the system. The modern system will include an electronic ticketing system for easy fare payment, onboard GPS tracking for real-time location updates, fixed routes and schedules to ensure punctuality, and a reliable service aimed at meeting the needs of daily commuters. One of the routes will connect KK Sentral to vital areas including Karamunsing, High Court, Luyang New Wong Kwok, Foh Sang, Damai, Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School, Likas Sports Complex, SICC, and the city centre, forming a convenient loop for passengers. Following the successful launch in Kota Kinabalu, the Ministry of Transport plans to expand the SBST program to other areas in Sabah, including Sandakan and Tawau, in the next phase of development. 'This is just the beginning,' said Phoong. 'We have a clear vision to enhance public transport across the state, and I am confident that the SBST program will contribute significantly to improving urban living and transport efficiency.' The first route is expected to be rolled out soon, with the full implementation of all routes set for completion by next year.


The Star
03-08-2025
- The Star
Singapore reviewing Malaysia's request to start cross-border bus services from JB at 4am
Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency plans to start operating cross-border bus services earlier. - The Star SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore bus operators are reviewing a request from Malaysia to start operating cross-border bus services from Johor Bahru an hour earlier. LTA told The Straits Times on July 29 that it had received a request from Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency on June 17 to start operating cross-border bus services earlier and that it is 'working with our bus operators to review the request'. These operators are public bus companies SBS Transit (SBST) and SMRT and some private bus operators. Malaysian news daily The Star said on July 24 that the Land Public Transport Agency is in talks with LTA to ask Singapore's bus operators to start services at 4am, instead of 5am. According to The Star, Johor state Works, Transportation, Infrastructure and Communication Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said long queues of Singapore-bound passengers would form at the Johor Bahru Checkpoint at 4am, so he hopes that an earlier start time would tackle the pre-dawn rush. SBST currently operates service 160 from Johor Bahru Checkpoint, with departures starting at 5am on weekdays and 5.50am on weekends or public holidays. It also runs service 170 between Larkin Terminal in Johor Bahru and Queen Street Terminal near Jalan Besar, with departures starting from 5.20am on weekdays and 5.30am on weekends or public holidays. Service 170X – a supplementary service that plies only a section of service 170's route – is also run by SBST, with the first bus leaving Johor Bahru at 8.28am on weekdays. Additionally, SMRT operates service 950 across the Causeway from Johor Bahru Checkpoint towards the Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange. No information on the starting times for its Singapore-bound service is publicly available, but the Johor Bahru-bound service departs from Woodlands at 5.30am every day. Other private bus operators, including Singapore-Johore Express, Ridewell Travel and Transtar Travel, ply routes from Larkin Bus Terminal and Johor Bahru Checkpoint to Singapore. ST has contacted all public and private bus operators for comment. SMRT and SBST directed these queries to LTA. Associate Professor Walter Theseira, a transport economist at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said it may be more costly and logistically challenging to operate cross-border bus services outside the usual scheduled hours. This is because public bus operators face labour constraints, he added. It would be more difficult to offer services at earlier start times as drivers may not want to accept these shifts, and it would affect manpower planning for the rest of the day. And these operational constraints may lead to higher fares, noted Prof Theseira, since buses operating outside scheduled hours are typically expected to cover a larger share of costs from fares – as in the case of the now-defunct late-night bus services, which charged higher fares of above S$4 (US$3.10). He noted that there may also be concerns from Singaporeans about providing more subsidies so that public transport operators can start their cross-border services earlier because they would primarily benefit Malaysians working in Singapore. While private operators can also adjust the operating hours of such services, he said they must be able to make profits to offer extended services. Malaysians who cross the Causeway daily to get to work in Singapore, such as Eerman Dzulkurnai, 39, said he would be happy to have potentially more cross-border bus services to use as he typically gets to Johor Bahru Checkpoint by around 4am to avoid getting stuck in traffic and be able to arrive at his workplace in Pioneer by 9am. The information technology support officer noted that by 6am, there are usually snaking queues, and it can take travellers one hour to squeeze onto a bus to Singapore. He added that early on the morning of July 21, when bus drivers under Malaysian bus operator Causeway Link went on strike, he was left with no choice but to walk 30 minutes across the Causeway. The upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link is set to run from 6am to midnight daily when it starts passenger service by the end of 2026. - The Straits Times/ANN