Tickets for interstate express buses could possibly cost more for some journeys in the future, following the introduction of two newly gazetted regulations that came into force on June 15. Under the revised framework, more express buses may now be classified as executive units, potentially resulting in higher fares, Malaysiakini reports.
While express buses continue to be divided into two categories, economy and executive, the basis for classification has been revised. As indicated by the report, the fare structure remains unchanged, but the shift to seating configuration as the primary basis for classification means that more buses may now be subject to the executive fare floor.
This marks a departure from the 2022 framework, which classified economy and executive buses based on seating capacity, onboard facilities and service offerings. Executive services also had to provide additional facilities such as reading lights, multimedia systems, reclining seats with food trays and halal drinks. The updated framework removes seating capacity and onboard facilities as classification criteria, focusing solely on seating layout.
In general, economy express buses are defined as those with two seating columns comprising double seats, commonly known as a two-plus-two configuration, while executive express buses are usually those with at least one seating column comprising single seats, essentially a two-plus-one layout.
This means that any bus with a two-plus-one seating configuration, which is reportedly common in the industry, is set to be classified as an executive unit, and must comply with the executive fare floor under the new rules. Under the Land Public Transport (Rates of Fares for Express Bus Services) Regulations 2026, economy express bus fares remain capped at 9.3 sen per passenger per km. As for executive express buses, fares continue at a minimum 15 sen per passenger per km, with a maximum cap of RM300 for a one-way journey.
The changes are expected to reduce operators’ ability to offer discounted fares for buses with a two-plus-one seating arrangement during periods of lower demand. According to an industry source, many of these two-plus one services were previously able to offer lower fares during off-peak periods.
With more buses likely to be classified as executive, operators may no longer be able to sell tickets below the minimum fare, even when demand is low. As a result, some passengers could pay more without any corresponding improvement in onboard services or facilities, the report said.
“It’s a very small change in the definition of executive (buses), but the impact is very great because the number of buses that move from economy to executive is most of the buses,” the source told the publication. The source also questioned the need for a fare floor, arguing that operators should be allowed to compete on price during periods of low demand.
“At 15 sen (per kilometre), I won’t have customers coming in. There’s no point having a high price if I don’t have passengers on the bus,” the source said, adding that the full impact of the new rules may become clearer during peak travel periods such as Hari Raya, when demand for interstate travel rises.
The source also warned that higher bus fares could push some travellers, particularly younger passengers, to switch to private cars or motorcycles instead. “So the bus is no longer the cheapest. The young people will be squeezing into their Myvis and their motorbikes to return to their hometowns. That will cause more accidents on the roads, and the roads will also become more jammed, as it takes many more hours to make the journey,” the source added.
However, the gazettes do not specify how many existing services will be reclassified, and the overall impact on ticket prices will depend on how operators adjust their fleets and fares during the six-month transition period. Licensed operators have six months from the June 15 introduction to fully comply with the updated classification framework.
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