KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — Malaysia’s retail and tourism associations have urged the authorities to lift the suspension of coach services operating at shopping malls, warning that the move could harm the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
In a joint statement, they said the directive to suspend companies offering mall-based coach and bus services to outstation destinations would have a “tremendous negative impact” on tourism and retail.
The statement was jointly issued by the BB-KLCC Tourism Association, the Malaysia Association of Hotels, the Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners, and the Persatuan Pengurusan Kompleks.
They said luxury and normal coach services from Singapore, Thailand and domestic destinations had long been crucial in bringing tourists directly to malls and hotels across Malaysia.
The groups highlighted that Singaporeans remain Malaysia’s largest tourist demographic, with 95 per cent identified as free and independent travellers who spend heavily on shopping and dining.
They said mall-based drop-off and pick-up points have been operating since 2006 at major Klang Valley malls including 1Utama, Sunway Pyramid, Berjaya Times Square and Nu Sentral, as well as Queensbay Mall in Penang.
According to the statement, about 20,000 passengers use such services monthly, contributing significantly to retail footfall and hotel stays.
“Malls are accessible, secure and provide ideal facilities such as restrooms, Wi-Fi and food courts for waiting passengers,” they said in the statement.
The associations added that the coach stops strengthen connectivity between retail centres, hotels and tourism sites while promoting Malaysia’s image as a welcoming destination.
They said suspending such services would “wipe out the tremendous efforts” by Tourism Malaysia to boost arrivals ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.
The groups warned that halting about 500 buses would cause major travel disruptions and risk damaging Malaysia’s international tourism reputation.
They called for the government to “take cognisance of the entire tourism and shopping ecosystem” and reinstate coach access at malls immediately.
On Nov 2, the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) confirmed it had ordered luxury coach operator Aeroline to suspend its services from Nov 6 to Dec 5.
The service was operating from Corus KLCC, 1 Utama and Sunway Pyramid, rather than Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS).
APAD said Aeroline had repeatedly picked up and dropped off passengers at unauthorised locations, breaching licence conditions under the Land Public Transport Act.
It said the suspension was intended to ensure passenger safety, reduce congestion and improve compliance with terminal regulations.
