KUCHING, MALAYSIA - The first express bus service to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, could start before the year is out.
The route through Brunei from one end of Borneo to the other, could take over 24 hours, Biaramas Express Sdn Bhd executive director Henry Lai said yesterday.
Lai told a news conference on the shuttle service for the Rainforest World Music Festival, which his other company Insight Holidays is providing, said Biaramas is working out the details, particularly "how to make passengers as comfortable as possible" on the long trip.
He said the service will start once the administrative and logistical details have been worked out and the delivery of new buses is completed. He said passengers will require a passport because the route passes through Brunei.
The company also plans to start a long distance service between Kuching and Limbang, which will also pass through Brunei.
Biaramas is also one of three companies given licences to operate the new stage bus services in Kuching city. The other two are City Public Link and Jepak Holdings.
On the shuttle service for the RWMF, Lai said Insight Holiday will use 45 coaches and vans this year.
Sarawak Tourism Board said festival goers will have to use the shuttle service as only police and emergency vehicles will be allowed past the road-block about three kilometres from the Sarawak Cultural Village, the venue of the fest.
