KUCHING: The next phase of modernising stage buses will be implemented in Sibu following the successful rollout of the initiative in Miri.

Sarawak Minister for Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said that the tender for the Sarawak New Stage Bus Service (SNSBS) – Sibu was advertised on 30 April 2026 and is scheduled to close on 20 May 2026.

According to him, the project is expected to be awarded in the third quarter of 2026 under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) of his ministry to continue the initiative to replace ageing stage buses throughout Sarawak, while also enhancing the public transport system through subsidies for stage bus operators' operational and management costs to ensure the continuity of services.

He said this during his ministerial winding-up session at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Monday.

Dato Sri Lee added that his ministry has also actively conducted the Miri Smart Bus Awareness and Ride Experience sessions for students across Miri to promote greater public understanding, encourage early adoption of public transport usage, and promote independent mobility utilising the Sarawak Smart Transport Application (SSTA).

Meanwhile, he noted that 56 new stage buses operating across 13 routes since their commencement in March 2025 have carried over 847,644 passengers as of April 2026 and are supported by the BAS.MY journey planner application.

“As of 30 April 2026, a total of 1,346 MyBas30 transit passes and 15,284 concession cards have been issued to commuters, including students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (OKU) under this programme,” he said. -UKASnews