Kuala Lumpur residents opt for express buses to escape highway congestion and driving stress as they return home for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

KUALA LUMPUR: The excitement of welcoming Syawal was clearly visible among travellers who flooded main bus stations in the capital last night to return to their hometowns ahead of Aidilfitri.

City dwellers expressed relief and gratitude for securing return tickets, describing express bus services as the best option to avoid extraordinary highway traffic congestion. The concourse of the Gombak Integrated Terminal was packed with people, but terminal management ensured passenger movement remained orderly.

For bank employee Amir Asyraf, 28, his decision to travel by bus to Tanah Merah, Kelantan was to avoid the fatigue of a twelve-hour drive. “I don’t want to drive because I want to avoid stress,” he said, adding he also wanted to experience returning home using public transport.

At Hentian Duta, the atmosphere was calm despite being a focus for last-minute trips to northern destinations. Factory operator Salwa Hamzah, 49, has used the express bus service with her son to return to Parit Buntar, Perak for the past three years.

Salwa, who purchased tickets online in the first week of Ramadan, was grateful the system prevented tickets from running out. “The ticket prices are still the same,” she said.

Private sector worker Iza Samsudin, 32, chose the express bus to Jitra, Kedah despite having her own vehicle. She left her car in the capital to avoid the risk of driving alone on the long journey.

“I don’t want to drive because I’m going home alone,” she said. “I’m also worried that if I suddenly fall asleep in the middle of the road, there will be no one to help me take over the driving.”

Muslims across the country will celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri tomorrow.

 The Sun Malaysia