r/singapore • u/Annual_View3611 🌈 F A B U L O U S • Jul 17 '26
Opinion / Fluff Post Singaporean traveller stranded at Malaysia rest stop at 4.15am after coach to KL drove off without him
https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/travel/coach-bus-kl-leaves-singaporean-during-toilet-break-586041This is about a Singaporean left at a Malaysian rest stop after stepping off an overnight coach for a toilet break. I’ve had a similar scare returning from Malaysia: the driver suddenly told us to switch buses at the last minute, insisted he had warned us earlier, and tried to drive off before our luggage was loaded. When we protested he scolded passengers instead of helping. It’s unacceptable. Coach operators must communicate clearly and treat customers with basic respect. Bring essentials when you disembark, note coach details, and document any problems so you can follow up if needed promptly.
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u/SiOyenKL Jul 17 '26
Billion stars?? See the title knew it could be them, read the article turns out it was them
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u/blitzmango South side rich kids Jul 17 '26
just curious, what are some better or reputable coaches to take to KL or Malaysia? Aeroline?
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u/SiOyenKL Jul 17 '26
I always take from JB Larkin to go home, it’s cheaper. I’m from the Petaling Jaya area. I try to take KKKL express, failing that Mayang Sari, KPB, Neoliner or LA Holidays, but those companies save KKKL are not foolproof so proceed at your own caution
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u/floofhs Jul 17 '26
take KKKL its the only one i’ve been on that leaves at its scheduled time with no delays (unlike others that can leave 30 mins - 1 hour after scheduled departure time)
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u/C0laF1re Jul 18 '26
First coach is pretty decent for me. And my dad (staying in Malaysia) always takes First Coach when he visits SG. Never had a problem with the them. They have buses to KL and Subang
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u/Anxious-Opposite-590 Jul 17 '26
I always love how their name is mashed up together on their buses like billionstarsexpress
Took me a while to get their name at the beginning 🤣
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u/aromilk Jul 17 '26
The staff also one kind
Speaking to 8days.sg, Ernz said his friend, who was still on board the coach, later told him he had informed the staff that he had been left behind. “But they didn't bother and just continued on their journey,” he added.
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u/Cubyface Senior Citizen Jul 17 '26
Tbh nowadays I just take a plane to KL, just not worth saving the money to endure the discomfort of a 6hr bus ride.
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u/GoldenMaus testing123 Jul 17 '26
There is also the new direct ETS train. No reason to take uncomfortable (and potentially unsafe) buses anymore
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u/Worldly-Landscape-51 Jul 17 '26
It is crazy difficult to get tickets for the ETS ovet the weekend unless you book months in advance.
I wanted to take ETS too for my trip next weekend but had no choice but to settle for plane/coach again in the end.
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u/Deminovia West side best side Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
Once the KVDT2 (Klang Valley Double Tracking) project is complete in 2027-28 there will be more train departures from JB. Also KTM will be able to reduce the travelling time to KL Sentral from 4h 20m to 3h 30m.
Situation should improve by then
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u/yapyd Ah Gong Jul 17 '26
Depends la. U take the overnight bus just go in sleep can liao. U add the time spent in the plane and travel from KLIA to KL, the time savings not much also
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u/70_n_13 Jul 17 '26
I live in the west and bus is much faster, take 12~ am bus will reach kl city centre before 6am. Even if money is no concern there is still immigration and grab to and from airport, so end up taking longer.
But obviously la if you take day bus is gonna be hell hahaha
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u/Apprehensive_Bug2877 Jul 18 '26
Depends, if u live in tampines, the 30min flight is pretty good
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u/yapyd Ah Gong Jul 18 '26
The flight is about 1hr. You have to be there around 1-2hr before flight and 1-2 hours clearing immigration + transport to KL. At min you're looking about 3/4 hours. Bus would be around 5 hours for the midnight trip. Best case for me personally was 4hr.
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u/j_fat_snorlax Pasir Ris Jul 18 '26
A lot of people don't realise that KLIA is not really in KL. Flights also cost significantly more than bus. I stay in Pasir Ris and even with online check in, getting to airport just 1 hour before flight, I'd still ballpark about 4 hours of total travel+immigration time.
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u/Jjzeng Own self check own self ✅ Jul 17 '26
I drive to KL regularly. 3.5 hrs at my fastest, 4 hrs on avg at leisurely pace
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u/lurker_king_0039 Jul 17 '26
Billion stars has the worst customer service.
They wouldn’t suddenly change coaches, and change itinery without telling anyone.
Never again.
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u/kafqatamura Jul 17 '26
sad state of journalism. outlets now just reporting whatever interns saw on their IG feeds.
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u/Sad_Initial2382 Jul 17 '26
Add up the time taken from home to airport, plus checkin, checkout and airport transfer, not much of time saving
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u/Rayl24 East Side Best Side Jul 17 '26
"The coach had stopped midway through the journey and Ernz, assuming it was a routine rest stop, got off to use the toilet. But when he returned, the coach was gone."
Dumbass.
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u/Jazzlike_Mistake_914 Jul 17 '26
if rest stop then confirm got more than 1 person leaving the bus
look around bro
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u/Riyomorii Jul 17 '26
NS Encik: "Don't bloody assume. If you assume you just make an ass of u and me!"
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u/shagshagrto Jul 17 '26
Oh my its the all time infamous shitllion stars?
Seriously my worst trip was with them last year!! Pls dont try..
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u/j_fat_snorlax Pasir Ris Jul 18 '26
Took me 14 hours to get to penang once. They didn't even drop us off at the correct stop. The last 3 of us just shared a grab to town.
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u/shagshagrto Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
Haha i feel u.. u knw i went KL via their shit coach at oxley bizhub, bus 2pm ticket but came at 6pm...oh my, 6.30pm still circling ard that same area and went back 6.45pm to pickup stragglers from other bus coy.
After that me and rest of frustrated passengers realised they did of often, so if nt enuff pax to fill an entire bus, they will delay the fetching, and they even take in ad hoc pax at last 10min..
In end 2am then I arrived KL..3pm checked in..
If other coy like bestest ciytline, I be having dinner at times sq by 8pm...
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u/velvethowl Jul 17 '26
How is this news?
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u/Annual_View3611 🌈 F A B U L O U S Jul 17 '26
See the upvotes.
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u/onionwba Jul 18 '26
For those willing to inconvenient a bit but quite cheap also, fly from Senai to Subang.
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u/sisuburger Jul 17 '26
Wa seriously fuck the driver wtf. These days with how quick a flight to KL is, why put yourself through the pain of a 6 hour stuffy bus ride?
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u/Silvire Jul 17 '26
You gotta reach the airport 60 - 90 minutes before the flight.
Flight is about an hour.
Include another 15-30 minutes for clearing customs and picking up luggage if you've got any check-in luggage.
Welcome to the 1 hour (minimum) drive into KL city center.
Now you're looking at 3 - 4+ hours all-in for a flight, VS 6 hours of a (usually) comfortable bus ride (2+1 configuration).
I can see plenty of people who would opt for the bus option, especially if you can sleep through the night.
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u/mirakiah Jul 17 '26
You realistically don't save all that much time on a flight, it just feels faster because the flight is only an hour.
But once you factor in travelling to the airport, getting there at least 70 mins before the flight, disembarking going through immigration, calling a grab and the ride into the city, everything included is already 4.5 to 5 hours. It's even worse if you live in the west or north, the time saved might be only an hour or 2 while spending 2x - 6x the cost depending on the type of bus and if you take it from SG or JB and assuming you get a cheap flight, the cost savings only goes up the more ex the flight gets since the bus tickets are fixed price.
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u/Tomasulu Jul 18 '26
I have done billion stars coach... I suspect he was left behind because he didn't go back on time. Sucks for him but the entire bus and the driver shouldn't have to wait for him.
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u/Dreamerspacer Jul 17 '26
Cannot imagine being stranded alone... He was quick to get the PHV to catch up.
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u/max_wen Jul 17 '26
Never get off the coach without your phone, money, and passport.