Govt to license key Klang Valley malls as public transport hubs

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will issue public transport hub licences to several major shopping malls in the Klang Valley to ease travel for express bus passengers, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today.

The malls identified include LaLaport Transport Hub at Mitsui Shopping Park Lalaport Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC), IOI City Mall in Putrajaya, Sunway Pyramid, and 1 Utama.

"However, these malls must first upgrade their facilities and ensure passenger safety before they can be licensed," he said after a working visit to the LaLaport Transport Hub.

LaLaport, located on Level LG1 of BBCC, is expected to be licensed as early as next month.

The ministry is working closely with all relevant parties, including the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), to expedite the process.

Loke said LaLaport has proper loading and bus bays and can function effectively as a public transport hub.

Previously, express buses operating on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route stopped at several locations such as Berjaya Times Square and Corus Hotel, which were considered unsuitable and unsafe for passengers to disembark.

"Many buses stopped at locations without proper and safe bus bays, causing congestion and raising safety concerns," he said.

He said that bus operators also felt there was little facilitation from the government and that they were forced to move to large terminals such as Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) or Terminal Bersepadu Gombak (TBG).

"While these are major terminals and operators are encouraged to use them, certain specialised services, such as the KL-Singapore express buses carrying many tourists, prefer to stop within the city centre," he said.

Loke clarified that bus operators are not being forced to relocate to a single location.

Once other shopping-mall hubs are licensed, operators can use these new facilities. Meanwhile, existing buses are allowed to operate under a temporary moratorium from their current locations, but they must comply once the designated transport hubs are ready.

He also stressed that hubs like LaLaport are not meant to compete with TBS or TBG, which serve domestic routes and handle larger passenger volumes.

"LaLaport is a specialised hub focused mainly on KL–Singapore services, aimed at attracting tourists directly into the city centre," he said.

"Similarly, locations like 1 Utama have been operating informally as drop-off points. We now want to upgrade and formally license them as public transport hubs to ensure safety." credit:https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/01/1361429/govt-license-key-klang-valley-malls-public-transport-hubs