BAS.MY Pink Bus KK: Routes, Fares & Everything You Need to Know (2026)

Kota Kinabalu finally has a proper city bus service. BAS.MY — locally nicknamed the "pink bus" — launched its full operations on 1 April 2026 with two routes operating from KK Sentral. It's air-conditioned, runs on a fixed timetable, costs RM50/month for unlimited rides, and is backed by RM88 million in Federal Government funding. Here's everything you need to know about it.

What is BAS.MY — the Pink Bus?

BAS.MY is Malaysia's national Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) programme — a federally-funded initiative to modernise public bus networks in secondary cities across the country. The KK service runs under this programme, operated by Jaguh Bayu Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of HI Mobility Berhad, the parent company of Handal Indah). The buses are wrapped in a distinctive bright pink livery, which is how locals came to call them the "pink bus."

Kota Kinabalu is the 12th Malaysian city to receive BAS.MY, joining Kangar, Seremban, Ipoh, Kuala Terengganu, Johor Bahru, Melaka, Kuching, Alor Setar, Sungai Petani, Kota Bharu, and Kuantan. Unlike the old minibus operators that ran on informal schedules and waited until the bus was full before moving, BAS.MY operates on a fixed timetable regardless of passenger load — a significant upgrade for KK commuters.

Who launched it and how much did it cost?

The BAS.MY KK programme was announced and championed by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, with the Federal Government allocating RM17.6 million per year — a total of RM88 million over five years — to fund the service in Kota Kinabalu.

The pre-launch trial runs began in September 2025, with free rides offered to the public from October 2025 through January 2026. Full paid operations launched on 1 April 2026 with two initial routes. The full fleet of 48 buses across all eight routes is being deployed in stages based on production schedules, with the complete rollout expected throughout 2026.

Local MP Datuk Chan Foong Hin (Kota Kinabalu) has been a vocal advocate for the service, calling it a key infrastructure initiative for the city alongside road upgrades and urban planning improvements.

What routes does BAS.MY cover in KK?

BAS.MY KK will eventually operate 8 routes covering 143 bus stops across the city and its suburbs. As of April 2026, routes S01 and S05 are operational. The full planned network covers the city centre, KKIA airport, Luyang, Likas, Cybercity, Putatan, Menggatal, and 1 Borneo.

Route	Key Areas Served	Hub	Status (Apr 2026)
S01	KK Sentral → Jalan UMS → 1 Borneo Hypermall → Jalan Lintas → KK Sentral	KK Sentral	✅ Operating
S05	KK Sentral → Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens → Jalan Penampang → KK Sentral	KK Sentral	✅ Operating
S02–S04, S06–S08	Luyang, Likas, Cybercity, Putatan, Menggatal, KKIA	KK Sentral	⏳ Phased rollout 2026

One of the confirmed planned routes connects KK Sentral → Jalan Gaya → Court Complex → Luyang Plaza → Foh Sang → Damai → Tshung Tsin Secondary School → Likas Sports Complex → SICC → City Centre → KK Sentral — a circular route covering the commercial and residential belt north of the city centre.

How much does BAS.MY cost?

BAS.MY KK is one of the most affordable public transport options in Malaysia. Fares are tiered based on user category, with the biggest value being the My50 monthly pass at RM50 for 30 days of unlimited travel across all routes.

User Type	Fare	How to Access
General public (monthly pass)	RM50 / 30 days unlimited	My50 pass via Manjalink card or app
General public (per ride)	Standard fare (pay onboard)	Cash or Manjalink card
Senior citizens	Free	MyKonsesi concession card (RM10 one-time fee)
Persons with disabilities (PWD)	Free	MyKonsesi concession card (RM10 one-time fee)
School students	Free	MyKonsesi concession card (RM10 one-time fee)
University students	Free	MyKonsesi concession card (RM10 one-time fee)

For daily commuters, the My50 pass works out to roughly RM1.67 per day for unlimited city-wide travel — significantly cheaper than Grab (typically RM8–20 per trip within KK) and comparable to old city bus fares.

How do you pay for BAS.MY in KK?

BAS.MY KK is a fully cashless service. Payment is made using the Manjalink card — a contactless smart card also used on BAS.MY routes in Johor Bahru and other cities. You can top up the card via the Manjalink website or the LUGO app. Note: online top-ups take up to 3 hours to reflect on the card — tap the card at a self-serve terminal first to sync the balance.

For the My50 monthly pass, this is purchased and loaded directly onto your Manjalink card. Concession cards (MyKonsesi) for seniors, students, and PWDs require a one-time RM10 registration — contact Jaguh Bayu or the relevant transport authority to apply.

Schedule, timetable & operating hours

BAS.MY KK operates on a fixed daily timetable from 5:30am to 11:00pm, seven days a week including public holidays. This is a notable improvement over old KK city buses, which often stopped running by early evening. The late-night service to 11pm makes it viable for shift workers and evening trips. For the live schedule and real-time bus arrivals, check the official BAS.MY website or the LUGO app.

What are the buses like inside?

The BAS.MY fleet in KK consists of brand-new, air-conditioned buses purpose-built for the SBST programme. Each bus is equipped with:

• GPS tracking — real-time bus location monitoring (and eventually, live tracking for passengers)
• CCTV — cameras throughout the bus for passenger safety
• PWD accessibility — designated spaces and boarding facilities for wheelchair users and elderly passengers
• Fixed timetable operation — buses depart on schedule regardless of how full they are (a major departure from old KK buses that waited until packed)

The bright pink exterior livery is consistent across all 48 buses, making them instantly recognisable on the road. When fully deployed, KK will have 48 pink buses running across the city.

What has the public reaction been?

The response has been a tale of two sentiments: optimism about the service itself, and frustration at how few people know it exists.

As of April 2026, Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Chan Foong Hin publicly called out the low public awareness around BAS.MY, urging residents to take up the service despite its availability since late 2025. Many KK residents simply don't know the pink bus runs, which routes it covers, or that it's free for students and seniors.

Those who have ridden it tend to give positive feedback on the air-conditioning, cleanliness, and punctuality compared to the old informal minibus system. The biggest structural complaints mirror other BAS.MY cities: coverage gaps (only 2 of 8 routes running as of April 2026) and frequency during off-peak hours.

There's a parallel worth noting in Kuching — Sabah's BAS.MY sister city — where some routes were discontinued in early 2026 due to low ridership, and others had their frequency reduced after 7pm due to empty buses. KK's long-term success will likely depend on how quickly the full 8-route network is activated and whether awareness campaigns catch up with the rollout.

Should you use BAS.MY as a tourist in KK?

For tourists, BAS.MY is useful but limited to the current two routes. Here's an honest breakdown:

Use Case	BAS.MY Suitable?	Alternative if Not
Getting from KKIA airport to city	❌ Not yet (airport route pending)	Airport taxi / Grab
City centre to 1 Borneo Hypermall	✅ Yes — Route S01	Grab (~RM15)
City centre to Jalan Penampang area	✅ Yes — Route S05	Grab (~RM10)
Getting to Likas / Damai / Cybercity	⏳ Pending route rollout	Grab or minivan
Day trips to Kinabalu Park, islands, etc.	❌ Not applicable	Long-distance bus or tour

For short-stay tourists, Grab remains the most practical option in KK due to its city-wide coverage and no need for a transit card. BAS.MY is a better value proposition for longer-stay visitors and expats who will commute regularly — the RM50 monthly pass pays for itself within a few days compared to Grab fares.

Ringkasan dalam Bahasa Malaysia

BAS.MY (bas pink) ialah perkhidmatan bas bandar baharu di Kota Kinabalu yang dilancarkan secara rasmi pada 1 April 2026. Pada ketika ini, hanya dua laluan — S01 dan S05 — beroperasi dari KK Sentral, dengan jadual bas pink tetap dari 5:30 pagi hingga 11:00 malam setiap hari. Tambang bas pink ialah RM50 sebulan untuk pas My50 (tanpa had tumpangan), manakala warga emas, pelajar dan OKU boleh menumpang secara percuma dengan kad MyKonsesi (yuran pendaftaran sekali sahaja RM10). Pembayaran adalah tanpa tunai menggunakan kad Manjalink atau melalui aplikasi LUGO.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which BAS.MY routes are running right now?

As of April 2026, only S01 (KK Sentral → Jalan UMS → 1 Borneo → Jalan Lintas) and S05 (KK Sentral → Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens → Jalan Penampang) are operational. The remaining six routes (S02, S03, S04, S06, S07, S08) are being deployed in phases throughout 2026, with full rollout expected by mid-to-late 2026. Check the official BAS.MY website for the latest.

Is BAS.MY free in Kota Kinabalu?

BAS.MY KK was free during its trial period from October 2025 to January 2026. Since April 2026, it operates on a paid basis. However, it remains free for senior citizens, PWDs, school students, and university students with a MyKonsesi concession card (RM10 one-time registration). All other passengers pay RM50/month for a My50 unlimited pass.

Where does the BAS.MY pink bus stop in KK?

All BAS.MY KK routes originate and terminate at KK Sentral Bus Terminal in the city centre. The full network will cover 143 designated stops across 8 routes. As of April 2026, routes S01 (via 1 Borneo / Jalan Lintas) and S05 (via Jalan Penampang) are operational.

Can I use Manjalink card for BAS.MY KK?

Yes. The Manjalink contactless smart card is the standard payment method for BAS.MY KK. You can top it up via the Manjalink website or the LUGO app, then tap to pay onboard. Online top-ups take up to 3 hours to sync to the card — tap at a self-serve terminal to transfer the credit before boarding.

Does BAS.MY go to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA)?

Not yet as of April 2026. The KKIA airport connection is part of the planned 8-route network but has not launched. For airport transfers, use Grab, metered taxi, or an airport shuttle.

How is BAS.MY different from the old KK city buses?

The key differences are: (1) Fixed timetable — BAS.MY departs on schedule regardless of how full the bus is, unlike old minibuses that waited until packed; (2) Air-conditioned throughout; (3) GPS tracking and CCTV on every bus; (4) PWD accessibility features; (5) Cashless payment via Manjalink card; (6) Federal government-subsidised fares.

Last updated: April 2026. Route information subject to change as BAS.MY KK continues its phased rollout. Check bas.my or Jaguh Bayu for the latest schedule and route updates.