SEPANG: The Transport Ministry is open to discussing with the Kelantan government on the regulation of tourist buses entering the state from Thailand, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He was asked to comment on Kelantan Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Kamarudin Md Nor saying that the state government was planning to meet with the transport minister to address this issue.
Loke, however, did not state if Kamarudin had officially reached out to him.
Kelantan Road Transport Department (RTD) director Mohd Misuari Abdullah had said tour buses and vans from Thailand were barred from bringing tourists into Kelantan via the state's three entry points.
He said only Malaysian tourist operators were allowed to operate in the country.
Misuari said vehicles from other countries, despite possessing International Circulation Permits, were not allowed to transport tourists into Malaysia.
Bernama quoted Loke as saying on March 16 that states bordering Thailand could appeal to the ministry to allow in Thai tourist buses.
"I understand that our existing policy is not to allow tourist buses from Thailand to enter the country, only private cars are allowed.
"If the state governments feels that there is a need to relook the policy, they can write to us to allow in tourist buses from Thailand," he said.
Loke had said this when he was asked to comment on a report that Kelantan, Kedah, Perak and Perlis would appeal to the ministry to allow tourist buses from the neighbouring countries to enter.