Cost of 'balik kampung' soars as bus operators struggle with diesel price hikes

Hundreds of thousands of travellers who depend on bus services to return to their hometowns for Hari Raya Aidilfitri have been forced to pay up to double the normal price of tickets as transport companies continue to struggle with the impact of diesel price hikes.

The increase is most noticeable for the executive bus category, where ticket prices have gone up as much as 70% according to checks by MalaysiaNow.  

This is especially for trips from the Klang Valley to the east coast, particularly Kelantan.

Ticket prices have also spiked for destinations such as Johor Bahru, Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Perlis, with increases reaching 100%.

Bus tickets from Johor Bahru to Kangar would normally cost about RM80 for the executive bus category but are being sold for up to RM160 starting three days before Aidilfitri.

One bus company said that ticket prices for Aidilfitri trips to the east coast had risen by 30% to 70%.

Laili Ismail, managing director of Ekspres Perdana, said the main factor behind the increase was the jump in diesel prices after the government withdrew bulk subsidies last year.

She said diesel subsidies for express buses were now limited to about 6,000 litres a month while a bus normally needs 10,000.

"The companies need to absorb the cost of the other 4,000 litres at an additional RM4,000 or so each month," said Laili, whose firm operates in the east coast.

Laili said the new rules for the full use of Euro 5 diesel by 2025 also required additional expenditure, in addition to a chemical known as AdBlue which is used to treat the exhaust system and control the emission of harmful gases.

"One litre of AdBlue costs up to RM7," she said.

There is also the cost of using the central ticketing system, under which bus companies must pay several fees upon entering the terminal area; increased maintenance costs; and high demand for travel from the Klang Valley to the east coast.

"That's why many bus operators choose to operate in the executive bus category," Laili said.

"During peak season, they will raise prices to make up for the slow sales during low season."

The government sets a rate of RM0.15 per km for executive buses and RM0.09 for the economy category.

For the executive category, Laili said the government only sets a price floor. The economy category meanwhile has no price floor but has a price ceiling.

But despite the jump in prices, Laili said many people had begun booking tickets for the journey back to their hometowns.

"Ticket prices for a trip on March 28 from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu have gone up 50%, but demand is high and many have paid as much as RM80," she said.

On social media, many criticised the price hikes which they said coincide with the start of the school year and the month of Ramadan, which normally require additional household expenditure.

Some also asked what the government would do about the price of bus tickets.

"PMX (Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim) said they would withdraw subsidies for the 'super rich'. But the people are the ones who are paying," said TikTok user Ericson.