KUALA LUMPUR: As the balik kampung exodus begins in earnest today, bus operators have this advice for those yet to get tickets — don’t panic.

And KTM Berhad said many return-trip train tickets were   available for its outstation destinations.

  Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Datuk Ashfar Ali said there should be no question of bus tickets not being available, now that bus companies have been allowed to run extra buses based on  demand.

 “When there is  demand   for a particular route and time, operators can immediately mobilise their additional buses. The government has approved some 1,400 extra buses, with more to be added, based on increased demand.”

 Ashfar expected the situation to be tense at the 26 bus terminals in the country from today till Sunday, after which things are expected to cool down.

 He was glad that this year, the management of privatised bus terminals had come forward to solve the problem of ticket touts.

As a result, the touts problem at the Puduraya bus terminal, for example, was now manageable.  

 Ashfar said the problem of touts could be taken care of once and for all if the government amends Rule 36 of the Motor Vehicles (Commercial Transport) Rules 1959.

 He said touts were taking away about 30 per cent of the business from bus operators by luring commuters to illegally-run buses.

 Ashfar also called on bus passengers to become the eyes and ears of the authorities by reporting  bus drivers who speed, as well as other errant vehicles on the highways.

   “Travellers can call  the toll free line at 1-800-88-9600 for the Commercial Vehicle  Licensing Board or   SMS to 39900 or call Rakan Cop.”

 The board’s chairman, Datuk Markiman Kobiran,  said there had been no complaints from the public over the bus service for the festive season.

 KTM Berhad  said many return-trip tickets to the north, east coast and south were   available.   It said most outward-bound tickets had been sold.

It had provided   54,442   tickets for the period between yesterday and Tuesday, with 41,810 sold.