KUALA LUMPUR – The express bus service at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) will continue during the Aidilfitri celebration, although less than 50% of tickets were sold following the implementation of the movement control order and interstate travel restriction.
TBS senior manager (operations) Faizal Redza Redzuan said between May 7 and 17, about 23,000 bus tickets to 131 destinations in Peninsular Malaysia were provided for those allowed to travel interstate for work and emergency purposes.
“On average, TBS receives around 2,000 passengers per day during this period compared with 20,000 people and 1,000 trips per day during the Aidilfitri celebration in 2019, which is before Covid-19 hit the country.
“This year, ticket sales have increased slightly compared with 2020, which also saw the implementation of interstate travel restrictions, where we received around 300 passengers per day to 60 destinations involving 85 trips,” he said.
He added that only 38 out of 123 bus operators were still operating and some adjustments had to be made including reducing the frequency of trips and terminating some routes to rural destinations due to low demand such as to Gerik, Perak.
Faizal said passengers were required to present police permission letters to cross state lines when purchasing tickets at the counter, while those who bought tickets online still need to show their tickets at the counter to obtain barcodes to enter the platform.
Any confusion and matters pertaining to permission letters would be referred to the TBS police station, he added.
Meanwhile, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad said in a statement that only 6,834 tickets or 20% out of 34,944 Electronic Train Service tickets were sold from May 7 to 20 for eight routes.
For KTM Intercity, only 384 tickets from 51,600 seats (around 1%) were sold for 16 routes during the same period.
Meanwhile, a check found TBS and KL Sentral quiet with no crowds or long queues, unlike the usual view during any festive season.
Several visitors said that they were travelling to meet their spouses, or for medical purposes with police permission to cross state lines. – Bernama, May 8, 2021
