Several Singapore Cross-Border Bus Companies Suspended due to Violation of Malaysian Authorities’ Operating Regulations
Several Singapore bus operators providing cross-border coach services between Singapore and Malaysia have had their operating licences revoked by Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) for breaching operating regulations as reported by 8world News. While the full list of companies has not been reported, a quick check on Easybook shows that Cityline, Leo City Coach, Luxury Coach, and WTS Travel are not available for booking at least for today (6 May) and tomorrow (7 May).
A common denominator of these companies are that they are usually using Bas Persiaran (Tour Bus) for such express bus services. It is not known if other companies operating by extension of these above companies will be affected by the suspension eg. Leo City Coach-Super Nice-Grassland-Zenwan Express-Feng Rong Group-KBES-Transtar.
If you have an existing booking that cannot be newly booked online, you should contact the bus company immediately to ask them what is going on. Some companies like Cityline have buses available for booking again next week. You are strongly advised against booking such tickets as it is not known how long this license suspension will last for, and your bus may not show up when your departure date comes.
But then again, even on a normal day, your Cityline bus may not show up anyway.
DO NOT TAKE CITYLINE TRAVEL!!! BUS NEVER SHOWED UP from Singapore Lavender MRT to KL Sentral
Known Suspended Singapore Intercity Bus Companies
Cityline TravelLeo City CoachLuxury Coach ServiceRidewell TravelWTS Travel
Reinstated Singapore Intercity Bus Companies Operating
- Cityline Travel in collaboration with Nice To U Express
- Leo City Coach by Tour Packages only
- Luxury Coach Service by Tour Packages only
- Ridewell Travel on BusOnlineTicket
- WTS Travel by Tour Packages only
This list may be incomplete. Further feedback is appreciated.
Please note that this Singapore intercity bus companies list does not include dormant companies which has not been operating services for the past few months, and Malaysia intercity bus companies.
As reported by 8world News, according to a statement from Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Agency, the operators were found to be selling tickets online for routes between various locations in Malaysia and Singapore, exceeding the approved service areas. These unauthorised sales led to the withdrawal of their special operating permits. The authorities have instructed the companies to return their original approval letters to the Johor Bahru office within seven working days.
A spokesperson for Leo City Coach, one of the affected operators, confirmed the revocation of their operating permit in response to media queries on 5 May. The spokesperson clarified that Leo City Coach does not provide standard express bus services, but instead partners with travel agencies and tourist attractions to offer travel packages that include hotel accommodation and transport.
“I received the notification from the Malaysian authorities yesterday (4 May). However, we had already heard about the issue beforehand, so all our travel packages were removed from sale last week,” the spokesperson said. They added that selling travel packages online had been standard practice for some time. The company is now in discussions with the Singapore office of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board to seek guidance on how to proceed.
Insiders revealed that at least five companies operating Singapore–Malaysia bus services have had their permits revoked as a result of these breaches.
The move is expected to disrupt cross-border travel for many passengers who rely on these services. Operators are required to comply strictly with the approved routes and regulations set by the Malaysian authorities, and any deviation can result in severe penalties, including such a permit withdrawal.
Tbh is not fair if all Singapore registered coaches to got revoke why not revoke 170/X 160/950 bad damage a scratches outside the bus and SJE still using the old school method to pay just to board the buses
These are 2 different licensing structures.
Any update if Super Nice bus is also affected?
This suspension involves Singapore cross-border express bus companies, not Malaysia cross-border express bus companies. However, as the situation remains fluid, you can contact your service provider for more information.
Was unable to find a suitable replacement bus and had to cancel the trip 🙁
What’s annoying was there was no update at all from Easybook / bus company, and I found this out by accident this morning when trying to reconfirm pick up
Just now, my friend who travelling with Transtar Solitaire from Berjaya Times Square to Singapore, need to changing their bus at Malaysian border.