Johor Bahru:The government has announced an extension of the BAS.MY Johor Bahru service through the Stage Bus Services Transformation (SBST) programme for an additional five years starting in 2027.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Transport Minister Anthony Loke stated that the extension will involve improvements and an expansion of the service network. This includes adding new routes and increasing bus capacity. These enhancements will be implemented in stages, based on operational needs and passenger demand.

Loke highlighted that the contract, which is set to be finalized soon, will include 230 new buses and other conditions. The expansion will cover areas with high demand, such as Tiram Terminal, Johor Jaya, Eco Tropics, Mall of Medini, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The additional buses will also increase the frequency of buses on main routes to between 15 and 20 minutes, and 20 to 30 minutes for feeder bus routes.

Furthermore, the plan includes adding 20 more organized bus bays along Jalan Jim Quee near JB Sentral, allowing for safer parking and quicker passenger boarding and alighting.

Since its introduction under the SBST in 2022, the stage buses have shown positive developments. Currently, BAS.MY Johor Bahru covers an operational distance of 16 million kilometers annually and carries nearly a million passengers each month. Passenger trips increased from 450,000 in December 2022 to 1.06 million in December 2025, peaking at 1.28 million in January this year. With the service area expansion, it is estimated that total passengers will exceed 14.99 million annually.

Loke emphasized that the expansion of BAS.MY Johor Bahru is a crucial component in supporting the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which is expected to commence operations in February. The improvement of the public transport network is necessary to ensure smooth passenger flow.