Kota kinabalu: The Sabah Sustainable Transport Master Plan (SSTMP) is being developed as a comprehensive long-term measure to reduce traffic congestion in the state's major cities, the Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting was told today. Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick said the plan would serve as the main strategic document in planning a more efficient, integrated, and sustainable transport system for the state.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the SSTMP was formulated to address issues arising from rapid urbanisation, growing private vehicle ownership, and mounting traffic woes, especially in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, and Keningau. 'It also includes short-, medium-, and long-term planning, with emphasis on strengthening transport and integrating various modes, including land, sea, and river, into a comprehensive system. This plan is formulated to create an efficient, integrated, safe, and sustainable transport system,' Ewon said.

He said this in reply to a question from Datuk Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin (GRS-Nabawan) on the ministry's long-term plans to reduce traffic congestion in Sabah's main cities. Ewon, who is also Sabah Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship, and Transport Minister, said the state government is also enhancing the public transport system in Kota Kinabalu through the Stage Bus Transformation Programme (BAS.MY), an initiative to provide scheduled bus services with structured routes, fixed frequencies, and continuous performance monitoring.

'These buses are equipped with modern facilities such as cashless payment systems, GPS, and CCTV, and are user-friendly, including for the elderly and persons with disabilities. It covers eight main routes aimed at increasing public transport usage, thereby reducing dependence on private vehicles and helping to ease traffic congestion in urban areas,' he said.

Ewon also mentioned that the federal government, through the Ministry of Transport, is conducting a feasibility study on the Trans Borneo Railway Project as a long-term strategic initiative with the potential to develop a new rail network connecting major cities and rural areas, thus improving the efficiency of passenger and freight movement. 'The government's approach is based on the concept of integrated transport, which combines various modes of transport to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable solution,' he added.