Loke: QR Code Bus Boarding to Ease Congestion

All interstate bus tickets sold online must now include a QR code, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today, as part of measures to ease congestion at bus terminals during peak travel periods.

The requirement comes ahead of heavy travel demand expected for the Chinese New Year later this month and the Aidilfitri holidays in late March.

From Feb, Loke said online ticketing agents are required to integrate QR codes into all tickets, allowing passengers to proceed straight to boarding without exchanging tickets at the terminal.

He was speaking after an inspection at the Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS) bus terminal.

The move follows complaints from passengers who were still forced to queue for a separate boarding pass despite having purchased tickets online.

The additional step often caused crowding and delayed departures, particularly during festive periods. Loke said bus operators had acknowledged the issue and assured the ministry that the QR code system would resolve it.

Passengers who bought tickets before the rule took effect can obtain QR-enabled tickets online via the TBS website. Each QR code carries a RM1 charge to ticketing agents, which contributes to TBS’s revenue.

“The QR code functions like a boarding pass. TBS operates much like an airport, with dedicated lanes and gates,” Loke said, adding that he expects the system to significantly reduce queues.

Source: MalayMail