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'Balik kampung' exodus starts as KL folk leave city

With just a few days left to first Syawal, city folk have begun leaving for their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Bernama observed that the city's major transport hub, KL Sentral, was today filled with people who were heading to their hometowns using public transport, including Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) services which include the Intercity and Electric Train Services (ETS).

Classic Raya songs such as 'Balik Kampung' by the late singer Sudirman Arshad and 'Indahnya Beraya di Desa' by Azlina Aziz which were aired at KL Sentral added to the festive mood.

Private sector employee Nurul Fatiha Bahar, 34, from Penang, said the Aidlfitri atmosphere could be felt at KL Sentral.

"I bought the KTM ETS ticket at the beginning of Ramadan because the bus tickets to the north are usually sold out fast, as many people choose public transport because it is cheaper," she said.

Mukmin Abbas, 21 from Taiping, Perak said travelling by public transport was a way to enjoy the merriment with other city folk as well as to reduce expenses.

"Most of my housemates and others in Kuala Lumpur have chosen to use the KTM Intercity service and I bought my ticket to Taiping very early," he said.

Lee May Li, 26, from Kuala Kangsar, Perak, said she often travelled by public transport but the mood was different during the festive seasons like Aidilfitri.

"KL Sentral is always the start of my journey from Kuala Lumpur to my hometown or to my holiday destinations, as I travel by the KTM Intercity," May Li said.

It was also observed that many security staff at KL Sentral were alert of passengers often leaving their bags or packages all over the place unattended.

Consumer-friendly TBS

The Baggage Storage Centre provided in Kuala Lumpur, however, was well-received as passengers took the opportunity to ensure their bags were safe.

Norhayati Salleh, 27, said she kept her bags there as her journey to Padang Besar, Perlis would be at night, so she could use the time to go shopping.

"It would be too heavy for me to carry my big bag around, so I am using this service, which is also cheap," she said.

The storage centre charges a fee of RM3 for small bags and RM5 (big bags) from 8am to 10.30pm.

Meanwhile, the South Integrated Terminal (BTS) was also teeming with people heading for their hometowns although there were still four days to Aidilfitri.

Its chief director of operations, Faizal Redza Redzuan, said 1,262 buses were provided today for city folk to 'balik kampung'.

He said bus tickets to the north and south of the peninsula were 80 percent sold and for destinations to Terengganu and Pahang at 90 percent, but tickets to Kelantan were all sold out.

Consumers who wish to buy tickets to their destinations can visit www.tbsbts.com.my or call 03-9051 2000 for more information.

Sapura Omar, 57, and her daughter Noratiqah Rahmat, 25, who will be celebrating Raya in Kota Tinggi, Johor, said the bus schedule and service system at TBS was consumer-friendly which eased their travel plan.

"My daughter and I bought our bus tickets in early June as we feared the tickets might be sold out fast and we also wanted to avoid doing this at the last minute.

"It's easy now as you can buy the tickets online and when you reach the TBS, you just go to the counter to get the boarding pass," she said.

- Bernama

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