Thousands head home for the polls

Packed counters: People queuing to buy bus tickets at TBS in Kuala Lumpur and KTM tickets at KL Sentral to go back to their hometowns.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bus terminals were jam-packed with Malaysians making their way back to their hometowns to vote.

A check showed that tickets to various destinations were sold out by early afternoon, which made some companies add trips to high-­demand routes.

At Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), crowds had built up since early in the day, when most buses to the east coast were departing.

Maju TMAS Sdn Bhd senior manager Faizal Redza Redzuan said bus tickets to all destinations had been selling fast since the date of the general election was announced.

“Tickets to most destinations were sold out three days ago,” he said.

Faizal added that bus tickets to the east coast and northern region were sold out early yesterday.

He said bus companies were trying to add 30 extra trips and that the Land Public Transport Commission had granted temporary variation licences for that purpose.

More than 41,000 tickets were sold for travel between April 6 and 8 at TBS, he said, adding that an estimated 21,000 passengers departed from TBS yesterday.

“This is almost double the usual number on a Tuesday,” Faizal added.

The situation was also hectic at the Hentian Duta terminal, which mostly caters to buses going to the northern region.

Kindergarten teacher Seow Sook Wah, 36, said she bought a ticket to Bukit Mertajam as soon as polling day was fixed.

The first-time voter said she would travel back to Kuala Lumpur after casting her ballot.

Senior executive Norasyikin Razali was another passenger at Hentian Duta waiting to board a bus back to Seri Manjung in Perak.

“I am going back just for one night. It is my duty to vote,” said the 29-year-old.

Muhamad Hanis Akmal Mohd Kaharrudin of Pancaran Matahari (M) Sdn Bhd said there only a few tickets left for travel yesterday, adding that most tickets were sold out by early April.