The Malaysian government plans to allow selected shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur to operate as transport hubs for express buses between Malaysia and Singapore.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Wednesday that licenses for public transport hubs will be issued to major malls, according to local news outlet The New Straits Times.
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People wait before crossing a road in front of a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur on June 2, 2022. Photo by AFP |
Among the malls under consideration are LaLaport Transport Hub at Mitsui Shopping Park, LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre, IOI City Mall in Putrajaya, Sunway Pyramid and 1 Utama.
“However, these malls must first upgrade their facilities and ensure passenger safety before they can be licensed,” he said during a visit to LaLaport Transport Hub, which is expected to receive its license as early as February.
“LaLaport is a specialized hub focused mainly on Kuala Lumpur–Singapore services, aimed at attracting tourists directly into the city center.”
Locations such as LaLaport and 1 Utama had been functioning informally as drop-off points. “We now want to upgrade and formally license them as public transport hubs to ensure safety,” Loke added.
Previously, express buses and private coach services on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route had stopped at locations deemed unsuitable and unsafe for passengers, including Berjaya Times Square and Corus Hotel, Loke said. Local media outlet The Star reported that the Road and Transport Department had since halted this practice.
Loke also acknowledged complaints from bus operators who were required to relocate to large terminals such as Terminal Bersepadu Selatan and Terminal Bersepadu Gombak, which are located about 15 km and 17 km from the city center, respectively.
