Four Singapore-based tour bus operators have been banned from operating in Malaysia after they were found to have breached transport licensing rules, Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) said.
In a statement responding to media queries, Apad revealed that the companies lost their licences after they were caught running express bus services and selling tickets online—both of which are not allowed for foreign operators in Malaysia.
Under current rules, foreign tour bus companies are only allowed to transport tourists overnight within Peninsular Malaysia. However, they must submit passenger lists and travel plans that begin and end in Singapore. These rules are meant to ensure that foreign buses do not compete with local express bus services.
Apad did not disclose the names of the four affected companies, but said the licence revocations were communicated to them on April 29 and May 2.
At present, 23 Singaporean bus operators are approved to operate in Malaysia, according to Apad.
Malaysian law permits only locally registered companies to hold licences for express bus services, Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao reported on May 6.
Two of the four affected firms—Cityline Travel and Luxury Coach—have issued public statements confirming the suspension of their services. Both companies said their Singapore-registered buses can no longer operate routes to and from Malaysia due to current policy restrictions.
Cityline Travel described the issue as a “policy matter” and said discussions are underway with Malaysian authorities. The company added in a May 7 Facebook post that it is refunding passengers and cancelling affected trips.
Luxury Coach, which operates from Orchard Mall in Singapore, explained that its service model is different from standard express bus operators. The company offers online round-trip bookings and additional services, which it said may have led to confusion among consumers.
“Because of the flexible options we provide, some have mistakenly assumed we are competing directly with Malaysian commuter bus operators,” the company stated. It added that it is cooperating with authorities to resolve the matter and to ensure compliance with the law.
Both Cityline Travel and Luxury Coach confirmed they have paused all coach services between Singapore and Malaysia until further notice.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, the other two companies affected are WTS Travel and Leo City Coach. The Straits Times has reached out to all four firms for comment.
One affected passenger, Mr Chan Chee Sheun, had planned a trip to Kuala Lumpur with his parents on May 28 to watch a football match at Bukit Jalil Stadium. He bought one-way tickets from Luxury Coach and Intercity Travel but learned of the suspension only through Facebook posts by the companies.
“This has really messed up my plans,” said Mr Chan, a 29-year-old food delivery driver. He had spent around S$177 on six tickets and is now waiting for refunds before booking alternative transport.
Meanwhile, Lianhe Zaobao reported that three Cityline Travel buses were stopped by Malaysian authorities at a checkpoint on May 4 while they were carrying passengers back to Singapore.
A check by The Straits Times found that the booking system on the WTS Travel website is currently under maintenance. WTS Travel operates several outlets in Singapore, including locations at Suntec City, AMK Hub, and Causeway Point.
The affected companies have been popular choices for Singaporean travellers heading to destinations like Resorts World Genting, Kuala Lumpur, and Malacca.
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