Express bus tickets: Apad limits sales to licensed terminals

Express bus tickets can be sold only at licensed terminals from 1 November. The Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) set the rule, and Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that it has drawn criticism.

Bus operators say no one asked them first. Online sales are not banned. Still, it is unclear who may sell tickets online.

Here is what the circular says, what operators fear and what is still unanswered.

What the Apad circular says

Apad sent bus operators a circular dated 16 October. It gives express bus terminals “absolute rights” over ticket sales for their passengers, FMT reported. The rule starts on 1 November.

Terminals will manage trips and ticket sales. SAYS added that they will also handle departures.

Until now, buyers had three options, SAYS said. They could use a terminal, an online agent or an operator’s own website.

Apad also said a new charge for digital platform services will fall on bus operators, not passengers. It will review the rate from time to time, FMT said.

FMT cited the New Straits Times on online sales. Tickets can still be bought through online travel agencies or operators’ websites. However, this holds only if operators own the terminals.

SAYS said this makes the rule depend partly on who owns each terminal. It called the point unclear.

What the express bus operators say

The Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association was “caught flatfooted”, its president said. Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali received the letter last week.

“We were not consulted or asked about anything. We do not know why this was done,” he told FMT. He is pushing for a meeting with Apad.

Ashfar called the rule unfair to customers. Online agents can offer better prices through deals with operators, he said.

“Passengers can jump from one online agent to another to compare pricing. They might lose that flexibility now,” he said.

He added that operators have spent money on their own websites and ticketing systems. That money would be wasted once the rule starts, he said.

Most terminals are owned by private firms or the government, Ashfar said. That matters because of the ownership condition.

Apad’s earlier push on licensed terminals

Apad has pushed licensed terminals before. On 19 May, it began enforcement at unlicensed pick-up and drop-off spots, The Star reported.

It covers all express bus firms. Apad cited safety and city traffic.

Apad named Lalaport, IOI City Mall Putrajaya and 1 Utama as approved hubs. They can also use TBS and TBG, the integrated terminals at Selatan and Gombak. Both already exist.

In November 2025, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the government was not forcing operators into two terminals, Bernama reported. He spoke after launching Transport Expo Asia. He said the rules for new terminals would be eased.

Apad has not said if the new ticket rule is linked. The reports do not say either.

Apad has not said why express bus tickets must now be sold this way. None of the reports quotes an Apad official. The circular, as reported, gives no reason.

The reports do not name a penalty for sales outside licensed terminals. They do not say what happens to bookings made before 1 November.