No extra buses, so travellers may turn to touts

PETALING JAYA: Touts are expected to rake in more money from passengers going home in express buses to celebrate Hari Raya.

They are expected to charge a higher price for tickets as many bus operators are not increasing their interstate trips.

A bus operator said the Land Public Transport Commission’s move to approve a special rate of 10% higher than normal rate for express buses from July 10 to 27 was a little too late.

The commission in a statement on Friday said the increase was to ensure that the express bus services were not delayed, besides fulfilling higher demand during the festive season.

The country’s largest express bus firm, Konsortium Transnasional Bhd (KTB), recently announced that no extra buses would be deployed if fares were not increased.

The company normally added more than 100 express buses to meet demand, in addition to the usual 300 buses on normal days.

Johor Bus Operators Association president Suchdav Jotisroop said the touts would decide the ticket prices when the demand was high.

“There is a demand for tickets and touts are supplying them. With the fare increase, the passengers only pay a little more. But with touts, people have to pay through the noses,” he said, adding that prices went up as high as RM100 from the usual RM30 to RM40.

He said there had been cases of “fake” tickets being sold.

Perak Omnibus Owners Association chairman Yeoh Choo Hoon said with the rising costs of operation, operators could not manage extra runs as they were making losses.

“Economically, we will have to do our normal services with no increases,” she said, adding that touts purchase in bulk and sell for a higher price later.