Public bus services has always been the cheapest way to get around Johor Bahru, but most Singaporeans would rather use taxis or Grab transports (requires mobile data) to get from point to point instead of using public buses. Apart from confusions regarding bus timings, bus fares and overlapping service routes from various bus companies, most of the (older) public buses are also pretty rundown — but, all these are history.
The myBAS public bus services is a new project, initiated by the Federal Government of Malaysia, to serve 5 corridors in Johor. Operated by Causeway Link, myBAS aims to "provide sustainable public transportation and more reliable services with proper bus schedules, cashless payment, etc". Service routes and relevant information are also made available online via Causeway Link's website.
If you are a regular day-tripper to Johor Bahru — or weekend-day-tripper like me — and do not always have mobile data roaming to use Grab services, knowing how to get around Johor Bahru, or within Johor state, using public bus services is essential knowledge. Using Grab services may be hassle-free if you happen to have data roaming but buying mobile data roaming or pre-paid card just to use Grab actually increases travel cost. Not to mention that Grab fares will surge during peak hours.
In addition, ManjaLink card (a cashless payment card like Singapore's EZ-Link card) can be used on most Causeway Link services, including myBAS and cross-border services CW1/CW2/CWL, allowing travelling on these buses to be more convenient and cheaper than cash payment.
Each ManjaLink card costs RM30.60 (first-time) with a RM20 travel credits and is available over counters at JB Sentral Bus Terminal and KSL City Mall's main entrance. A self-service kiosk is also available in Kranji Mobile, a shop at Kranji MRT Station in Singapore. Tap the card on readers when boarding and alighting the buses (don't tap card when alighting from cross-border services).
Top-up the card when credits run low. Note that minimum top-up amount is RM30.
Since September 2022, myBAS began operation and replaced most of the older bus services with new services from JB Sentral Bus Terminal near JB CIQ.
If you are planning to go to shopping malls (or using them as landmarks) in nearby Johor Bahru, check the list below for available bus services from JB Sentral. Tap the service number to see respective bus routes at Causeway Link's website.
🛍️ JB City Square Shopping Mall / KOMTAR JBCC
These two shopping malls are just opposite JB Sentral. Exit JB Sentral and cross the overhead bridge. Turn left to City Square or right to KOMTAR JBCC.
🛍️ R&F Mall
R&F Mall is located about 600 metres from JB CIQ and is accessible via a covered overhead linkway from JB Sentral. You should be able to see the entrance of the linkway after exiting JB CIQ. Just walk to the mall.
To go by public bus, take myBAS F100 / myBAS T11 / myBAS T13 / myBAS T20 / myBAS T21 and alight at the mall (note that there is no bus stop opposite R&F Mall). Minimum bus fare applies.
🛍️ KSL City Mall
Take myBAS F100 directly to KSL City Mall. The fare is RM1.50.
Tags: KSLCityMall, KSLCityEat, KSLCityCafe
🛍️ Plaza Pelangi
Plaza Pelangi is easily reachable by several bus services. The fare is RM1.30 for all services from JB Sentral.
myBAS F100 towards KSL City Mall, alight at Grand Paragon Hotel
myBAS T11 towards Setia Indah
myBAS T20 towards Kota Masai
Tag: PelangiEat
🛍️ Plaza Sentosa & Taman Sri Tebrau (Dai Mah Garden)
Plaza Sentosa is accessible by several bus services. The fare is RM1.30 for all services from JB Sentral.
Tag: TamanSriTebrauEat, SentosaEat
🛍️ Mid Valley Southkey Mall
Take myBAS T21 towards Permas Jaya and alight at the mall. The fare is RM3.00.
🛍️ AEON Permas Jaya Shopping Centre
Take myBAS T21 to Permas Jaya and alight at AEON Mall about 3 stops after crossing Sungai Tebrau (Tebrau River). The fare is RM2.00.
🛍️ AEON Mall Tebrau City / IKEA Tebrau
Take myBAS T10 towards Kota Tinggi, via Larkin Sentral, and alight at the bus stop near to AEON Mall Tebrau City. The fare should be around RM3.00.
🛍️ Paradigm Mall / Angsana Johor Bahru Mall
Take the following bus services and alight at the bus stop opposite Angsana JB Mall or Paradigm Mall along the Skudai Highway:
🛍️ AEON Mall Bukit Indah
Take myBAS T33 towards Taman Tan Sri Yaacob and alight at the mall.
🛍️ Perling Mall
Take myBAS T33 towards Taman Tan Sri Yaacob and alight at the mall.
🛍️ Eco Galleria @ Eco Botanic
There is no direct bus service from JB Sentral to Eco Botanic. You can take myBAS T33 towards Taman Tan Sri Yaacob, alight at AEON Mall Bukit Indah and change to myBAS T43 towards Puteri Harbour. Alight at the bus stop opposite Eco Botanic.
Alternatively, go via Tuas 2nd Link using Causeway Link CW3 / CW3L / CW3S and alight at Anjung Medini, cross the road and take myBAS T43 towards AEON Mall Bukit Indah. Alight at Eco Botanic.
🛍️ Sutera Mall
Go via Tuas 2nd Link and take Causeway Link CW3S directly to the mall.
🚌 Larkin Sentral
Getting from JB Sentral to Larkin Sentral now has a dedicated service, myBAS T13. The maximum fare is RM1.80.
Alternatively, take myBAS T10 that en routes to Larkin Sentral before continuing to Kota Tinggi. The fare should be around RM1.50 between JB Sentral and Larkin Sentral.
If you are crossing the border via JB checkpoint, it is faster to take SBS Transit 170 (continue on EZ-Link card or pay RM2.10) or Causeway Link CWL (RM2.60) direct to Larkin Sentral from the bus bays below JB CIQ.
✈️ Senai Airport
Take Airport Shuttle Service AA1 at the end of the bus terminal below JB Sentral to the airport. To return from Senai Airport to JB Sentral, find Service AA1 at the end of the waiting area after exiting the airport. The fare is RM8 / adult or RM6 / child. The journey will take about 30 minutes when traffic conditions are good.
Check out the locations of shopping malls and other destinations mentioned above.
Reference: www.causewaylink.com.my