With a population of over 30 million, Malaysia in Southeast Asia is a place where different cultures and ethnic groups coexist. There is so much to see and do in this diverse, friendly and surprising country. Almost all tourists who dare to visit this country go to Peninsular Malaysia, and not to East Malaysia, which is located on the island of Borneo and is less developed. Getting around Peninsular Malaysia is quite easy, with good transportation options, including to the Thai border to the north and the Singapore border to the south. The roads are in good condition and the transport infrastructure is very good compared to other countries in the region. In this guide, we present the keys you need to know if you are thinking of traveling by bus in Malaysia.
Is it safe to travel by bus in Malaysia?
North-South highway bus © Tang Yan Song / Shutterstock.com
As we said before, Malaysia’s highway network and road conditions are surprisingly good, especially compared to other Asian countries. Local roads may be slightly less well maintained than the main roads, but bus travel in Malaysia is generally quite smooth. The road network covers most of the Malay Peninsula. This includes the North-South Highway, which runs 966 kilometers across the country from end to end. It is the longest highway in the country and allows you to get from one city to another in a reasonable time. There are more roads than railways in Malaysia, so traveling by bus in Malaysia is easier (and cheaper) than traveling by bus, as you can get to far more places by road than by train.
Is it safe to travel by bus in Malaysia? As in any country, traveling by public transport always involves some risk. In recent years, there have been several serious bus accidents in Malaysia, but the same has happened in other countries in the region. Typically, the problem is created by a reckless driver who makes questionable trips while trying to reach the next scheduled destination on time. Unfortunately, sometimes overtaking does not end well. If you are traveling on long-distance buses in Malaysia, make sure you book with a reputable company. Some have speed limiters on buses so that drivers always travel at a safe speed. Even if it takes a little longer to get to your destination, a bus that travels slower and stops regularly will be safer than one that exceeds the speed limit.
If you are a woman traveling alone, you should have no problem traveling by bus in Malaysia, especially if you choose a private company. On a public bus, someone may try to get close to you, but on private buses, theft or problematic situations are very rare. If you are traveling by minibus, you will also have no problem, because you will also share the journey with other foreign tourists. Just remember that it’s important not to take your eyes off your stuff.
Types of buses in Malaysia
local buses
City bus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia © jamesteohart / Shutterstock.com
If you are moving around big cities like Kuala Lumpur, you can use the local bus to get from one place to another in the city or to the outskirts. Of course, as traffic tends to be quite dense, it may be a better option to travel by metro or light rail as they cover much of the city and are much faster than buses.
In smaller towns and rural areas you will have to rely on local buses as there are often no other transport options. The good thing is that traveling by bus in Malaysia is very cheap, so you can get around for very little money. The disadvantage is that the provincial roads are not in optimal condition. Also, drivers drive less carefully on these roads, so the ride can be a bit bumpy.
Intercity buses
Intercity Buses at Melaka Sentral Station © Joel Whalton / Shutterstock.com
In Malaysia, you will mostly use intercity buses. These services are offered by many private companies and allow you to travel long distances for little money. There are many companies to choose from that offer similar services, but you should always check certain factors.
It is worth reading the opinions of other passengers who have already used the service. If you book tickets online on a website such as 12Go.asia, you can easily compare tickets and read reviews. Find out about the punctuality of the buses, the number of stops, whether the rides are safe and what the onboard service looks like.
You can also compare bus types and book directly on 12Go. If you can travel on the most luxurious buses, these are definitely worth taking. Traditional buses have about 44 seats. If you are looking for a bus that only has 24 or 27 seats, you will have much more space and the journey will be more comfortable. These buses are more expensive, but if the trip is long, it’s worth spending more. Also note that traveling by bus in Malaysia is much cheaper than other transport options.
The most famous and respected companies include Super Nice and Aeroline. Many bus companies in Malaysia are part of the country’s largest bus operator, Konsortium Transnasional Berhad. This group includes the Transnasional, Nice, Plusliner and Cityliner brands.
All these companies have fleets of modern, air-conditioned buses. It is worth knowing that the air conditioning is usually so powerful that some passengers on the way feel cold. It is worth wearing long trousers and taking a jacket or even a travel blanket with you, because it is very possible that you will get cold.
Other types of buses
There are also airport buses in Malaysia. They are useful if you want to get from one of the major airports to the city center. You might be surprised to learn that in larger cities, some buses are free to encourage people to use public transport. This is the case in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor state, as well as in special buses in shopping malls. So it’s a good idea to look for these buses if you want to get around the city.
Where to buy bus tickets in Malaysia
Bersepadu Seletan Terminal, Kuala Lumpur’s main bus station © Shahrin Md Ayob / Shutterstock.com
Before we talk about where to buy tickets for bus travel in Malaysia, we will analyze whether it is necessary to buy tickets in advance. In our opinion, if possible, it is always worth buying tickets in advance to travel with more peace of mind. If you’ve already booked accommodation and activities, it’s worth booking transportation as well, especially considering how easy it is to do it online these days. As mentioned earlier, travel sites such as 12Go are a good booking tool as they allow you to see a variety of companies, schedules, departures and prices all in one place.
Another factor to consider if you intend to travel by bus in Malaysia is the time of year you intend to do so. During national holidays or holidays such as Ramadan, Chinese New Year and Christmas, Malays often return to their home towns to reunite with their families. Since the bus is the cheapest mode of transport, tickets usually sell out in no time. So if you’re traveling on holiday, it’s best to book your tickets in advance so you don’t run the risk of running out.
At other times of the year, thanks to the number of bus companies and departure times that exist every day, it’s usually no problem to buy a ticket on the same day you want to travel. Still, as we said before, if you have the option to book them in advance, it’s highly recommended. So you can choose the company you want to travel with and the type of bus.
So where can you buy tickets? You can go to the websites of bus companies, search for the route you are interested in and book online with most of them. It is also possible to buy tickets directly at the bus stations. If you decide to shop at the station, make sure you do it at official outlets and don’t be fooled by people who say they’ll help you buy it. These people usually charge more than the ticket really costs and you may end up on a bus that is not very comfortable.
Our recommendation for purchasing tickets if you intend to travel by bus in Malaysia is to use the 12Go website. It is a well-known and respected company. If there is a problem, they will be able to help you solve it. It’s always a good idea to enlist the help of a large company while on vacation.
Traveling by bus in Malaysia is easy and cheap. Multiple departures are scheduled covering a large number of routes reaching almost every corner of Peninsular Malaysia. The flexibility of buses and routes makes them a good option for tourists, outperforming trains and planes, which tend to be more expensive. Although the journey by bus is longer than by plane, depending on the route you choose, the bus can be faster than the train.