Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 27 from Pengkalan Kubor to Kota Bharu

Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 27 is a local bus service plying between Pengkalan Kubor and Kota Bharu, serving bus stops and landmarks along its route. Heading to Kota Bharu after a short morning at Pengkalan Kubor Duty Free Zone, I took Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 27 for a cheap and fuss-free journey.

Pengkalan Kubor Duty Free Zone

Pengkalan Kubor Duty Free Zone is located at the border by the banks of the Golok River, beside Pengkalan Kubor Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex. The Golok River here marks the border between Malaysia and Thailand.

A variety of goods for everyday living are available at Pengkalan Kubor Duty Free Zone.

A KTM mural at Pengkalan Kubor Duty Free Zone, despite no trains serving it.

Pengkalan Kubor ICQS Complex is the border checkpoint in Malaysia for crossing to Tak Bai in Thailand.

This Pengkalan Kubor ICQS Complex entrance at the north is for foot passengers for the ferry. The vehicle entrance at the south is for vehicles only.

The Pengkalan Kubor border crossing opens from 6am to 7pm Malaysia time (GMT+8) daily. This relates to 5am to 6pm Thai time (GMT+7) daily.

Pengkalan Kubor ICQS Complex and Pengkalan Kubor Duty Free Zone are located adjacent to each other at the road end.

Pengkalan Kubor in Malaysia and Tak Bai in Thailand are connected by frequent, light Ro-Ro ferries. Immigration is conducted on land on both sides respectively, before and after the ferry ride.

Malaysia and Thailand are just about 270 meters apart at this point. The Pengkalan Kubor-Tak Bai ferry travels for about 400 meters between the 2 checkpoints.

As it was the long weekend and plenty of Malaysians were heading to Tak Bai, just like how Singaporeans go to Malaysia for the long weekend, I did not join in the crowd to cross over to Thailand, lest I accidentally waste a whole day at immigration queues.

Also, I had entered Malaysia from JB using the Autogate, so I had no entry immigration stamp in my passport, which may pose a problem for me here at Pengkalan Kubor anyway.

There is a local taxi stand at Pengkalan Kubor road end.

Pengkalan Kubor Bus Terminal

However, the Pengkalan Kubor Bus Terminal was also just ahead, with Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 27 to Kota Bharu, so I didn’t need a taxi for this trip.

The Pengkalan Kubor Bus Terminal is located at the road end of Pengkalan Kubor.

A banner with the route and timetable of Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 27 is displayed on the building beside the bus parking lot.

The Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 27 bus at Pengkalan Kubor Bus Terminal, with the driver on his layover break.

An express bus counter is located opposite the Pengkalan Kubor Bus Terminal bus parking lots. There are overnight buses departing from Pengkalan Kubor Bus Terminal to KL and JB.

At 10.12am, 3 minutes before scheduled departure, the driver returned to the bus to sell tickets at boarding. Tickets are generated by a handheld device, with cash collected by the bus driver.

The interior of the Mutiara Rentas Desa bus.

The legroom on board Mutiara Rentas Desa is quite generous for a local bus.

Handgrips and bus stopping buzzers are installed on board the Mutiara Rentas Desa bus to cater for standees and to alert the bus driver when a stop is requested.

My ticket for the Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 27 from Pengkalan Kubor to Kota Bharu which costs RM3.20.

My Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 27 departed on time at 10.15am from Pengkalan Kubor.

Passengers were also waiting at bus stops along the road out of Pengkalan Kubor.

My Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 27 made a stop at Shell Pengkalan Kubor for refuelling. Truly a local experience.

The driver making his way to make payment for the diesel just pumped.

Heading out of Shell Pengkalan Kubor.

Passing by other local bus stops.

Passing through Neting General Operations Force (GOF) Post when heading out of Pengkalan Kubor.

Chabang Empat

Passing through Chabang Empat.

Turning right at Jalan Lama Wakaf Bharu to serve Wakaf Bharu town directly. The main road ahead is a new road bypassing Wakaf Bharu.

Wakaf Bharu

There was quite a bit of a jam when heading through Wakaf Bharu.

The main bus stop in Wakaf Bharu. Wait for the Mutiara Rentas Desa bus here if coming in from Wakaf Bharu Railway Station heading towards Kota Bharu.

Turning right at the new junction continuing on to Kota Bharu.

Crossing over the railway tracks north of Wakaf Bharu Railway Station.

Big signs point towards Kota Bharu.

Passing by Masjid Al-Ismaili at Bandar Baru Pasir Pekan, Wakaf Bharu.

Crossing the Sultan Yahya Petra Bridge over the Kelantan River.

Heading on the east bank of the Kelantan River on approach to Kota Bharu.

The continues straight on Malaysia Federal Route 3 at the first junction to Kota Bharu, to use Malaysia Federal Route 8.

Making a brief stop at the Tune Hotel Kota Bharu City Centre and KB Mall bus stop.

Turning right at KB Mall.

Heading straight on to Kota Bharu.

Turning right at Jalan Hilir Pasar towards Kota Bharu Bus Station.

The bus shelter at Kota Bharu Bus Station used by Mutiara Rentas Desa.

The iconic Kota Bharu Bus Station building.

My 10.15am Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 27 arrived at Kota Bharu Bus Station at 11.19am, making this a journey of 1 hour and 4 minutes, including the traffic jam in Wakaf Bharu.

Boarding immediately begins for the next 11.30am departure to Pengkalan Kubor.

There are waiting kereta sewa drivers at Kota Bharu Bus Station waiting for business.

The Mutiara Rentas Desa bus shelter at Kota Bharu Bus Station.

Mutiara Rentas Desa bus service information is displayed at the Mutiara Rentas Desa bus shelter at Kota Bharu Bus Station.

Conclusion

It’s great that essential local bus services have been restored by Mutiara Rentas Desa with the demise of SKMK and Cityliner in Kelantan. Demand for local bus services along the route can also be seen with the frequent stops made. Hopefully this passenger demand maintains so that such essential bus services will remain for the foreseeable future.