Those to Kelantan and Terengganu are almost sold out
KUALA LUMPUR: EXPRESS bus tickets to Kelantan and Terengganu for Hari Raya Aidilfitri are almost sold out.
Checks by the New Straits Times at the Putra bus terminal here yesterday found many operators had sold almost all their tickets for East Coast-bound buses.
Tickets for Kota Baru were almost sold out while those for Kuala Terengganu were selling fast.
Mara Liner Sdn Bhd had sold out tickets to Kuala Terengganu and it planned to offer extra trips on Aug 5 and 7 at 11pm, depending on the demand.
Its ticketing counter worker, Yunus Arif, said tickets were sold out within the first two weeks since the company started selling them.
Ekspres Perdana had sold out tickets to Kuala Terengganu and Kota Baru for Aug 2 to 7.
The only available date left was Aug 1.
Bas Ekspres Adik Beradik Sdn Bhd had sold out tickets to Kota Baru while those bound for Terengganu were selling fast.
Checks showed that the 10 per cent surcharge on ticket prices, approved by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), meant passengers forking out between RM3 and RM4 extra per ticket.
However, many passengers were unaware of the hike.
Bas Ekspres Adik Beradik ticketing officer Siti Zubaidah Ismail said many were surprised with the 10 per cent surcharge.
"Some passengers were not aware that the price increase happens every year.
"As they had no other choice, they bought the tickets."
Hafika Zaki, 22, who got a ticket to her hometown in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, said she initially had planned to return by flight.
"Flight tickets have become too expensive. So, this was my last resort. I wanted to go home earlier but I managed to get a ticket only for Aug 3."
Meanwhile, at the Bandar Tasik Selatan terminal, south-bound bus tickets, particularly to Larkin, Mersing and Segamat in Johor, were selling fast.
A ticketing counter worker said many passengers had pre-booked their bus tickets.
