Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 from Kota Bharu to Kuala Krai

Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 is a local bus service plying between Kota Bharu and Kuala Krai. This is one of the longest bus routes that Mutiara Rentas Desa has to offer, with a direct north-south route passing by major towns in Kelantan such as Wakaf Che Yeh, Kadok, Ketereh, and Pulai Chondong, mainly using Malaysia Federal Route 8. For this research trip to Kuala Krai, I took Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 from Kota Bharu, in order to compare it with the Shuttle Timuran train service.

Kota Bharu Bus Station

Mutiara Rentas Desa buses parked at Kota Bharu Bus Station.

My Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 was easily identifiable with the striking green livery on a big coach. More pleasantly surprising, this was an ex-Konsortium E-Mutiara Premier Super VIP bus with 30 seats in a 2+1 configuration, still in the Konsortium E-Mutiara livery. I’m going to get an express bus quality for a local bus route.

I had also spotted an ex-Konsortium E-Mutiara 45-seater big coach the day before at Kota Bharu Bus Station, with a rebranded Mutiara Rentas Desa local bus livery. Seems like Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 mainly has big buses on this route for its length and passenger demand.

Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5

Tickets are purchased from the driver and generated by the handheld machine.

The interior of the ex-Konsortium E-Mutiara Premier Mutiara Rentas Desa Super VIP bus in a 2+1 seat configuration.

I picked out a single seat for this bus journey.

The bus was relatively empty on Hari Raya Aidiladha, so I also had extra seats to put my bags on. Also notably, the local passengers also prefer to sit as front as possible in the bus, despite the rear being empty.

The legroom on board this Mutiara Rentas Desa Super VIP bus.

A leg rest and calf rest are also provided with this Orient seat. While I would usually say that this is a tight legroom for express buses, I will say that this is superior comfort on Mutiara Rentas Desa, a local stopping bus service.

2 USB power sockets were found below my armrest.

I’m pleased to have the USB power sockets working. This is absolutely amazing for a stage bus service in Kelantan.

Being a local stopping bus service serving bus stops and landmarks throughout the route, bus stopping buzzers have also been fitted into this ex-Konsortium E-Mutiara Premier Mutiara Rentas Desa Super VIP bus. Notably, no standing provisions have been added, which would have been really interesting to see.

My ticket for the Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 from Kota Bharu to Kuala Krai which costs RM7.40.

At 2pm, a parade of Mutiara Rentas Desa buses departed from Kota Bharu Bus Station on schedule, including my bus.

Heading out of Kota Bharu Bus Station. This marks the end of my stay in Kota Bharu for this trip.

Turning right on Jalan Padang Garong, away from the 2pm Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 9 to Kota Bharu Airport.

I was almost on this exact bus, as there was a cheap 4.55pm AirAsia flight from Kota Bharu back to Johor Bahru on this date, but decided against booking it as there was a good lower ADNS berth available on the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 27dn, it would be nice to end this train trip with a train, and also to start my usual trip down the KTM Singapore Sector all the way from Tumpat by train this year.

Heading past the Clock Tower Roundabout.

It’s a straight route here on Malaysia Federal Route 8 to Kuala Krai.

Passing by KB Mall.

Heading straight on to Malaysia Federal Route 8.

Passing by local bus stops.

Wakaf Che Yeh

Passing through Batu 4 Junction.

Passing by Mydin Tunjong.

Passing by H Elite Design Hotel.

Passing by G-Orange Mall.

Kok Lanas

Passing by Arked Mara Kok Lanas.

Turning on to Jalan Pulai Chondong 2 to serve Pulai Chondong.

Pulai Chondong

Heading through Pulai Chondong, which is off Malaysia Federal Route 8.

Heading back on to Malaysia Federal Route 8.

Splitting away from Malaysia Federal Route 8 again on approach to Machang.

Machang

2km to Machang.

Turning left away from the main road directly in to Machang at Simpang Empat Kweng Hitam.

Turning right at Jalan Bahagia.

Machang Bus Station

Making a brief stop outside Machang Bus Station at the taxi stand.

The old sign of SKMK still stands inside Machang Bus Station.

Passing by Pasar Besar Machang.

Turning on to Jalan Kuala Krai.

Heading back on Malaysia Federal Route 8.

Passing by Sultan Ismail Suspension Bridge across Sungai Nal.

Surprisingly, the Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 turned left on to Jalan Sungai Durian.

Sungai Durian

Passing through Kampung Pondok Sungai Durian.

Passing by plantations along the way.

Making a brief stop at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Embak, though with no passengers.

The Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 loops back at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Embak on to Jalan Sungai Durian again. Checking back the linear route map of Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5, this is indeed the correct route, with a “branch line” of the bus route to serve Sungai Durian.

Heading back on Malaysia Federal Route 8 towards Kuala Krai.

Kuala Krai

Heading through Kuala Krai in the central area, also known as Guchil Sentral.

Keeping right to Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra.

Malaysia Federal Route 8 continues on the left. The Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 heads straight on within Kuala Krai.

Heading on to Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra.

Passing by Taman Chintawangsa.

Passing under the railway tracks north of Krai Railway Station.

Passing by Hospital Kuala Krai.

Passing through the commercial area of Pekan Kuala Krai.

Turning left on to Jalan Ah Sang, the road leading directly straight to Krai Railway Station.

Turning left just before Kuala Krai Bus Station.

Kuala Krai Bus Station

My Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 arrived at Kuala Krai Bus Station at 3.41pm, making this a journey time of 1 hour and 41 minutes.

Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 stops outside and opposite Kuala Krai Bus Station.

Kuala Krai Bus Station is gated up.

However, there are vehicles parked inside Kuala Krai Bus Station. I’m not sure if this closed bus station is due to Hari Raya Aidiladha, or it is indeed closed just like at Pasir Mas.

The location of the stopping point of Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 outside Kuala Krai Bus Station in relation to Kuala Krai Bus Station itself.

Kuala Krai was totally closed on Hari Raya Aidiladha.

Krai Railway Station is just ahead from Kuala Krai Bus Station.

Krai Railway Station

Happy to step in to Krai Railway Station with train rides ahead of me and with shelter on this hot day.

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.

I was very pleased to be on board an ex-Konsortium E-Mutiara Premier Super VIP bus with not much modifications aside from the additional retrofitted bus stopping buzzer, which provided premium comfort and frills on this local bus service. A Super VIP 2+1 bus with USB charging sockets? This is possibly the best stage bus service in Malaysia for comfort.

It’s also wise of Mutiara Rentas Desa to put this bus on a long route since passengers would be seated more comfortably with the long distance and time spent on board.

Travel time wise, Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 is comparable to the Shuttle Timuran train. It’s a couple of minutes longer than the fastest train ride from Wakaf Bharu to Krai, and also costs more than double at RM7.40 for the bus and RM3 for the train, but bear in mind that Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5 originates from downtown itself, eliminating the need for transfers to Wakaf Bharu Railway Station first.

If demand remains high on Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 5, Mutiara Rentas Desa should consider adding more trips on this trunk local bus service on top of using big buses, to better serve the connectivity for the locals living along Malaysia Federal Route 8.