KUALA LUMPUR: After two years of celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, this year's celebration is indeed highly anticipated by Malaysians looking to return to their respective hometowns.

Public transport such as buses and trains are also among the popular modes of heading home.

A survey by Bernama at these transport centres found that many visitors were eager to return home early for Hari Raya, but they complied with the SOPs in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.

At Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), a housewife, Farah Hanim Ishak, 25, who was waiting to board the bus with her three children and sister-in-law said she had bought the tickets two weeks earlier to ensure they could return to her hometown in Kedah.

"It's fun to go back this time around, although my husband couldn't come because of work," she said.


Nur Aqilah Fakhira Ayub, 22, a student of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), said this was the first time she was taking a bus to return to Johor for Raya.

"I'm using the bus because my family can't come to pick me up and I don't want to bother them as well, plus I have friends who are going back together, so it'll be a new experience," she said.

In Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral), the Electric Train Service (ETS) is one of the more popular choices among students as it offers special prices to them.

"The original ticket price is RM70 if you want to go back to Taiping (Perak) but because there is a student price, it is only RM40.

My friends are also taking the same train, so it will not be a boring affair," said Nur Afreena Mohd Rosli, 22, a student of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam.


A disabled massage therapist, Khairul Nizam, 44, said he used the ETS to return to his village in Negeri Sembilan because of the friendly treatment he received.

"I have a vision problem, so the crew here always helps me in terms of seating, and when I reach my destination, they will also help me," he said.

A private worker, Amir Afif Azmi, 35, said he and his family were very excited to return to Perlis this year because it had been a long time since everyone had gathered for Aidilfitri.

"I already bought the tickets two months ago, because my wife and I would rather take the six-hour train ride than getting stuck in traffic," he said.

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) is expected to add four more trains to Padang Besar to accommodate the high number of passengers this festive season.

-- BERNAMA