SURGE IN PEOPLE AT BUS, TRAIN, AIR HUBS

Travellers excited to return home to celebrate with families

FAIRUZ MOHD SHAHAR KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my

THE balik kampung fever peaked yesterday with city folk crowding bus terminals, taxi stands and airports to go home for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, which is expected to fall tomorrow.

A check by the New Straits Times at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) in Sepang saw the terminals packed with locals who were excited to go home.

Some had arrived and camped at the airport four hours before their departure time.

Lamiah Uchat, 42, and her family had arrived as early as noontime to catch their flight to Labuan at 4.30pm.

“It will be a meaningful Raya for me as this year is my turn to balik kampung after four years.

“Previously, we celebrated

Raya at my husband’s hometown in Tanah Merah, Kelantan.

“We came to the airport early as we do not want to miss the flight since the exodus has just begun. We are expecting changes in the departure time.

“For me, Raya celebration in Pulau Labuan is different from the peninsula. It is livelier there.”

She will be celebrating in her hometown for a week with her husband, Mohd Sufian Mohd Zauhari,43, and their five sons.

A couple, Zulkiflie Alfian, 58, and his wife, Sri Rahayu Hussein, 46, will be returning to Singapore after six years.

Sri Rahayu said they bought their tickets two month earlier.

“Normally we will return to my hometown in Jitra, Kedah.

“But this year, we decided to celebrate Raya at my husband’s kampung in Singapore. We will be staying there until Wednesday.”

An AirAsia spokesman said an average of 46,000 passengers had flown in 530 flights daily since June 16.

At the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, its operation manager said about 80 per cent of the 200,000 express bus seats had been snapped up as of Thursday.

As for KTM Bhd, its corporate communications division head Ridhwan Arshad said 8,400 employees would be on duty from tomorrow to Friday to ensure smooth operations.

>>