KUALA LUMPUR: The LaLaport Transportation Hub will soon be licensed as a dedicated public transport hub for express buses operating on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route, Transport Minister Datuk Anthony Loke said today.
The move is aimed at reducing congestion in the city centre.
Loke said express buses on the route previously stopped at multiple locations such as Berjaya Times Square and Corus Hotel, which were considered unsafe and unsuitable for passengers to board or alight.
“Many buses operating between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore stopped at locations we consider unsuitable, such as in front of hotels or shopping centres without proper and safe bus bays.
“This situation has caused congestion and raised safety concerns,” he told reporters after a working visit to the LaLaport Transportation Hub.
He said LaLaport is expected to receive its licence soon.
“We are satisfied with LaLaport and believe it is highly suitable to serve as a hub, particularly for KL–Singapore express services.
“We hope this will also attract tourists to use public transport hubs that are conveniently located near amenities and public transport connections,” he said.
He said other sites have also been identified for future licensing, including 1 Utama and Sunway Pyramid in Petaling Jaya, as well as IOI City Mall in Putrajaya.
“However, these locations must first upgrade their facilities and ensure passenger safety before they can be licensed,” he added.
He said that transportation hubs such as LaLaport are not meant to compete with Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) or Terminal Bersepadu Gombak (TBG), which serve domestic routes and handle much larger passenger volumes.
“LaLaport is a specialised hub focused mainly on KL-Singapore services, aimed at attracting tourists directly into the city centre.
Similarly, locations like 1 Utama have been operating informally as drop-off points.
“We now want to upgrade and formally license them as public transport hubs to ensure safety,” he said.
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