PETALING JAYA, June 16 — The Klang Valley is expected to see another major ‘balik kampung’ exodus this Hari Raya season, with express bus and train tickets selling fast.

Bus companies told Malay Mail Afternoon E-Paper that tickets from the Klang Valley to states in the north and the east coast were all being snapped up. 

Abu Bakar Mohammad, chief executive officer of Sani Express Sdn Bhd, said his company had no more seats from Klang and Kajang to destinations in Kelantan and Terengganu for the period July 1 to 4.

The first day of Hari Raya is expected to fall on July 6.

“We started selling tickets in mid-May. It started to peak at the end of May and they were sold out a few days ago,” he said.

He added that the night trips for destinations in Kedah and Perlis from the Klang Valley were also completely full.

Konsortium E-Mutiara Bhd Lembah Klang operations manager Khairul Anam Che’ Ibrahim said tickets to Kota Baru, Kelantan, went on sale on June 8 and have already been sold out for trips from July 1 to 5.  

“Tickets from the Klang Valley to destinations in the north such as Alor Star, Jitra, Changlun, Kangar and Perlis on the same dates are still available.

“For southern destinations like Pasir Gudang from the Klang Valley, half the tickets have been sold,” he said.

Kuantan-based Utama Ekpres Sdn Bhd manager Tajudin Mohd Yunos said trips from Ipoh, Butterworth, Alor Star and Kangar to Kuantan for the two days before Raya have been sold out.

“Other tickets are still available. So far, the demand is concentrated on the few days before and after Hari Raya.

“We will only offer additional journeys should the demand spike for these days, depending on approval by the Land Public Transport Commission,” he said, adding that his company has 25 buses.

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad corporate communications head Ridhwan Arshad said 97 per cent of tickets for intercity and electric train service (ETS) between July 1 and 5 have been sold out.

“To date, 96,000 tickets have been sold for the period July 1 to 17 for 38 ETS and eight intercity services,” he said.

* This article first appeared in Malay Mail Afternoon E-Paper yesterday.