MANY Malaysians are feeling the pressure of a challenging economy as the cost of living continues to rise.
It is already common knowledge that the price of everyday essentials, including food, utilities, and household goods, have gone up, never to go down again.
And now, a netizen has come to point out that bus fares have gone up too, not by a bit, but by over 46%. If his claim is true, this is indeed a very troubling development.
In the post, netizen @KlutzyKucing observed that the cost of the bus ticket from KL to Kemaman, Terengannu has gone up.
In his own words, @KlutzyKucing said the fare used to be around RM44.50. Now, for the same route, it has reached RM64.80.
Harga tiket bas dari KL ke Kemaman hari ini.
“Ekonomi semakin kukuh,” kata bapak2 Menteri. Tetapi bagi rakyat yang bergantung kepada bas ekspres, realitinya semakin sesak.
Dulu tambang sekitar RM44.50. Kini untuk laluan yang sama sudah mencecah RM64.80, kenaikan hampir 46%.… pic.twitter.com/Q6BlGny3GH
— KucingKerongKuantan (@KlutzyKucing) July 8, 2026
Note that the snapshot he provided in the post relates to Sani Express, which provides services to Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah, Johor, Kuantan, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan.
“The question is, have the people’s salaries also risen by 46%?” he asked.
“What is even more disheartening is that the bus is not a luxury option. It is a basic necessity for millions of people who do not own a car,” @KlutzyKucing lamented, adding that the people are not interested in statistics of the economy improving.
His post has since turned into a hot bed for discussion as seen in the comment section.
“It is not only Kemaman. I went back to Penang and the price of the ticket has also risen,” said @35Klil.
Then there was @JaniBlack77 pointing out that the state government should just provide job opportunities for the people of Kemaman so they don’t have to travel back and forth.
Countering his comment was @NH160689, who said students are using the buses too, not just workers.
Perhaps the winning comment went to a sceptical @blush_jorge, saying that the price of the ticket has not gone up, but that they were priced according to the different time and other factors.
So it appears the story was not as simple as claimed by @KlutzyKucing.
With the Johor election just around the corner, one can only wonder if this is cybertrooping work or a genuine call-to-attention post demanding prompt action.
Regardless of whether the post reflects a genuine fare hike or a misunderstanding caused by dynamic ticket pricing, the strong public reaction highlights growing anxiety over the rising cost of everyday necessities.
In an increasingly challenging economic environment, transparency in pricing and clear communication from transport operators will be crucial in maintaining public confidence.—July 10, 2026
Main image: saniexpress_bus_official (Instagram)
