Free buses, doubled train capacity for Johor polls

JOHOR BAHRU: An NGO is providing six free buses to transport 240 voters from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to Johor to cast their ballots in the state election this Saturday.

Representing Stesen Pemantauan Rakyat, Yong Shui Wen said four buses would come from Kuala Lumpur, while another two would pick up voters from Singapore at the Sultan Iskandar customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) complex here.

“These buses will travel to several destinations, including Tangkak, Muar, Batu Pahat, Pekan Nanas, Segamat, Labis, Kluang, Ayer Hitam and Kulai.

“Buses from KL to Johor will depart at 9pm on Friday while buses from the CIQ complex will leave at 9pm on Friday and 9am on Saturday,” he told Bernama.

Yong said the NGO had been running the initiative since 2018 and had received an encouraging response from Johor voters living outstation, with all available seats filled.

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) meanwhile has doubled the seating capacity for its ETS to the south from July 10 to 12 in response to increased demand ahead of the state election.

KTMB CEO Azlan Shah Al Bakri said an additional 7,560 seats were added for the KL Sentral-JB Sentral-KL Sentral route, bringing total capacity to 15,120 seats.

He said 12,769 seats, or 84% of the total capacity for the route, had been sold as of 7.45am today, with only 2,351 seats remaining.

“KTMB has also increased seating capacity for the Gemas-JB Sentral-Gemas route from 630 to 4,410 seats during the same period to facilitate travel for Johor residents heading out to vote.

“As of this morning, 47% or 2,064 seats had been booked, with 2,346 seats still available,” he told Bernama.

Checks on the KTMB app found that tickets for several peak-hour services this Friday and Saturday were almost sold out, although the public has been advised to continue checking ticket availability.