KUALA LUMPUR: The Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) has defended enforcement actions against express bus operators using unlicensed pick-up and drop-off points, saying they were given ample time to relocate to approved terminals and transport hubs.
In a statement on Tuesday (June 2), it said the issue began last year when an express bus operator decided to cease services in Kuala Lumpur after being instructed to comply with the requirement for operations to be conducted from government-licensed terminals.
The agency said the directive was part of efforts to ensure that express bus services nationwide were operated in a more orderly and safe manner while complying with the law.
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Apad said a hotel in the city terminated its collaboration with the operator in January following the takeover of the site by a private developer for redevelopment purposes.
To facilitate the transition, the government granted a temporary enforcement moratorium, which Apad stressed was intended as a transitional measure and not recognition of the alternative point, Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), as a licensed terminal.
"The operator was given sufficient time to identify and relocate its operations to a licensed terminal or transport hub.
"However, after almost five months, it remained unwilling to do so," the agency said.
Apad said it subsequently issued an enforcement directive in May to ensure full compliance with the law.
The agency also clarified that it had never issued any licence or approval for any location within TRX to function as a legal terminal or transport hub for express bus operations.
"It is important to note that the length of time an operation is conducted at a location does not automatically make it a recognised or approved terminal.
"In addition, TRX has never submitted an application to Apad to operate a bus terminal within its development," it said.
The agency said enforcement measures that took effect on May 19 against passenger pick-up and drop-off activities at unlicensed locations applied to all express bus operators without exception, and did not target a specific company.
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It said the policy was aimed at improving passenger safety, reducing traffic congestion in city centres, especially during festive periods and school holidays, and ensuring more efficient use of public transport infrastructure.
"Passenger pick-up and drop-off activities at roadsides or unlicensed locations pose clear safety risks to passengers and other road users," it said.
To ensure continuity of services, particularly for international routes to Singapore, Apad said it had approved several locations as legal transport hubs, including Lalaport, IOI City Mall Putrajaya and 1 Utama in Petaling Jaya.
Operators could also utilise existing integrated terminals such as Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) and Terminal Bersepadu Gombak (TBG), which offer supporting facilities and good public transport connectivity, it added.
Apad said operators choosing not to use licensed locations did so based on their own commercial considerations and not because of a lack of legal alternatives.
The agency said it remained open to discussions with operators requiring guidance to continue operating in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
