KL’s Lalaport Hub Nears Approval for Singapore Express Buses

Kuala Lumpur’s Lalaport at Bukit Bintang City Centre is almost ready to become a fully licensed public transport hub, Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed today. 

The ministry aims to issue the licence as early as February, bringing a long-awaited upgrade for express bus services between KL and Singapore.

“The ministry is working closely with all relevant parties, including APAD, to speed up the licensing process,

 “Lalaport is almost fully ready, and the licence is expected in February. Other locations like One Utama, IOI City Mall, and Sunway Pyramid will take longer to complete upgrades," Loke told Bernama.

Approval from Kuala Lumpur City Hall is still required, but once all conditions are met, APAD will issue the licence. 

Meanwhile, express bus operators have been allowed to continue running from existing roadside stops under a temporary three-month moratorium. 

“At present, only one or two operators have started at Lalaport, with three to four more expected to relocate in due course,” said Loke. 

He added that the main focus is on operators previously stopping at Berjaya Times Square and Corus Hotel, which were deemed unsafe due to congestion and poor facilities.

Lalaport will not replace major terminals like TBS or Terminal Bersepadu Gombak. Instead, it is designed specifically for KL–Singapore express services, integrated with Hang Tuah LRT and monorail stations to make travel easier for tourists and city-bound passengers.

The hub already features a centralised ticketing system, 11 bus bays, and nearby rail access. Loke said some improvements are still needed, such as better signage from Hang Tuah LRT, larger waiting areas, and LED departure boards to help passengers navigate the 250m walk from the LRT to the hub.

“The goal is to have Lalaport fully upgraded and licensed by February. Once ready, operators will be required to move in. The moment everything is in place, they have to relocate,” he concluded.