Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke had suggested that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) takes over the GoKL free bus service when the contract with the current GoKL operator, the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), ends on December 31.

GoKL costs around RM12 million per year to run the service and as part of the government’s rationalisation efforts, Loke said the government hoped to channel those funds to subsidise bus services in other states that need public transport, especially bus.

“DBKL is a local authority with financial resources, so we hope they can take over the GoKL service and allow us to use those resources to fund public transportation services in other states,” he said on October 18.

Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad said his Ministry will consider Loke's suggestion. GoKL has an average daily ridership of 65 000 passengers with 40 buses serving its four lines. The Purple and Green Lines were introduced September 2012 while the Red and Blue Lines started in May 2014. The current fleet consists of Scania K-series and Alexander Dennis Enviro200s which entered service in 2015. Normally the Enviro200 will serve the Blue Line and the Red Line while the Scania K-series buses will serve the Green Line and the Purple Line, though the Scania K-series buses might serve the Blue Line and the Red Line as well.

Based on a survey last year, 60 percent of GoKL users are locals while the remaining 40 percent are foreign workers and tourists.