Published on August 16th, 2023 | by Sounder Rajen

Transport Ministry Introduces ‘myBAS’ Pass For Free Bus Rides On 58 Routes

The free myBAS service is aimed at helping target groups that can’t afford a car.

As we all know, things are not as cheap as they used to be, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, the price of everything is going up aside from our salaries. So what is the solution for underprivileged Malaysians who rely on public transportation like public buses? Well, the Transport Ministry is solving this problem.

How? The Transport Ministry has just introduced the ‘myBAS Concession’ pass, which allows individuals with special needs (OKU), students and children aged 7 to 17 as well as senior citizens to use the stage bus service for free. For the less well to do, this scheme is truly one that will be much appreciated.

Moreover, Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, says that over 2,500 people are expected to benefit from the scheme which is managed by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD). Those eligible can register at the myBAS service counter with their MyKid, MyKad or MyTentera while children below 6 years of age need not register.

City bus in bus systems Transjakarta Jakarta, Indonesia Photo: Scania 2016

The initiative, which began on 15 August 2023, is being implemented under the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) programme in Seremban, Ipoh and Johor Bahru and Loke says that the scheme will be extended to the SBST programme in other states in stages, hopefully it will eventually cover all of Malaysia.

On top of that, Loke also added that the myBAS Concession operator has been in business for seven years and the ministry will reopen the tender when the contract expires at the end of the year. This will ensure no monopoly can be established and that the scheme remains as an aid to the rakyat.

Loke also mentioned that the bus service involves 58 routes in Seremban (23), Johor Bahru (19) and Ipoh (16) for now and that the ministry would also discuss with the bus operators to fix the problem of only one or two servicing route being run at any time despite there being seven operators between Seremban and Kuala Lumpur.