{
  "id": 15580172,
  "title": "Express bus tickets can only be bought at Apad-licensed terminals from Nov 1",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/express-bus-tickets-can-only-be-bought-at-apad-licensed-terminals",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T08:06:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1558982/express-bus-tickets-can-only-be-bought-apad-licensed-terminals-nov-1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "From November 1, Malaysian bus operators and ticketing agents will only be able to sell express bus tickets through Apad-licensed terminals, according to a new ruling by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad). Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali revealed the decision, noting that the association received a letter about the change but claimed no prior consultation had taken place with bus operators. He expressed concerns that many operators had invested in developing their own ticketing platforms, and now passengers may no longer be able to buy tickets directly from these websites. Bus operators previously had three options for ticket sales: terminals, online agents, and their own websites. The new ruling grants terminals exclusive rights to sell tickets and introduces a new commercial fee structure, with Apad stating that tickets could still be purchased through online travel agencies (OTAs) or operators' websites if the terminals were owned by the operators themselves.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: A new ruling by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) allowing express bus tickets to be sold only through licensed terminals from Nov 1 has caught bus operators and ticketing agents nationwide by surprise.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Brickbats as express bus ticket sales limited to Apad-licensed terminals",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/brickbats-as-express-bus-ticket-sales-limited-to-apad-licensed",
        "published": "2026-10-19T10:39:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}