Malaysia Pushes for MOTAC Control to Restore Order as Cross-Border Tourism Vehicles Create Enforcement Challenges

Published on December 3, 2025

Malaysia’s tourism sector is entering a critical phase as cross-border vehicle movements involving Singapore and Thailand intensify concerns over safety, compliance, and fair competition. As the country prepares for major tourism milestones ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026, industry players are urging the Government to restore the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) as the primary authority overseeing tour vehicle regulation, a role they previously held with strong sector support. PRESS STATEMENT-TOUR VEHICLES R…

In recent months, Malaysian tourism operators have reported increasing operational pressure as foreign tour vehicles enter the country through major border points in Johor, Perlis, Kedah, Sabah and Sarawak. Travellers crossing into Malaysia often expect seamless mobility, yet domestic operators argue that inconsistent oversight has allowed foreign buses and vans to function in ways that undermine licensed Malaysian agencies, weaken national tourism standards, and blur the boundaries of permitted operations. PRESS STATEMENT-TOUR VEHICLES R…

A Growing Challenge at Malaysia’s Borders

Tourism mobility has always been central to Malaysia’s appeal, especially for visitors arriving from Singapore and Thailand — two of the country’s largest source markets. However, sector stakeholders report a surge in vehicles from both countries offering services not aligned with Malaysian tourism regulations. These concerns include foreign buses selling online tickets directly to passengers, Thai vans collecting local travellers during their routes, and non-tour vehicles crossing borders without meeting long-distance safety requirements. PRESS STATEMENT-TOUR VEHICLES R…

Domestic operators believe such trends pose safety risks, disrupt regulated travel flows and erode the accountability system that once clearly distinguished tourism transport from express, school, factory, or charter vehicles.

Industry Push to Restore MOTAC’s Former Authority

Prior to administrative changes that shifted vehicle regulation to the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), MOTAC governed cross-border tour operations with firm and tourism-specific oversight. According to industry representatives, this earlier framework required foreign vehicles to collaborate with licensed Malaysian travel companies, ensuring that itineraries, guide services, tourist safety, and travel arrangements were all handled by entities familiar with Malaysia’s tourism laws and standards. PRESS STATEMENT-TOUR VEHICLES R…

Stakeholders now argue that reviving that model would introduce clarity at a time when Malaysia’s tourism economy is rebuilding and evolving. With new travel patterns emerging across the region, the sector believes that MOTAC — not general transport agencies — is best positioned to manage vehicles exclusively dedicated to tourism activities.

Complexity Intensifies with Conflicting Foreign Requirements

Complicating matters further are new entry conditions issued by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA), which reportedly require certain vehicle reclassifications that clash with Malaysia’s existing rules. This has raised concerns among Malaysian operators who feel that compliance with foreign requirements should never force domestic operators into inefficiencies or contradictory standards. Ensuring balanced, fair and mutually recognised guidelines across both sides of the Causeway has become an urgent priority, particularly as travel volumes grow. PRESS STATEMENT-TOUR VEHICLES R…

Illegal Operations and Misuse of Tourism Designations

Beyond cross-border challenges, Malaysia is also witnessing the rise of unlicensed individuals and companies using the term “Travel & Tours,” potentially misleading travellers. Tour industry bodies have called for stricter enforcement by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) to ensure that only MOTAC-licensed operators may present themselves as legitimate tourism service providers. This step, they argue, would protect both travellers and compliant businesses while reinforcing trust in Malaysia’s tourism infrastructure. PRESS STATEMENT-TOUR VEHICLES R…

A Call for Fully Integrated Enforcement Before Visit Malaysia 2026

Tourism leaders are urging the Government to integrate enforcement systems across several key agencies — PUSPAKOM, APAD, MOT, MOTAC, JPJ, and PDRM — to create a shared national database. Such a platform would allow authorities to track permits, safety records, and enforcement history across all tour vehicles entering and operating within Malaysia. They believe this measure is essential to prevent illegal operations, enhance cross-border control and elevate Malaysia’s tourism governance ahead of major promotional campaigns planned for 2026. PRESS STATEMENT-TOUR VEHICLES R…

Why Stronger Tourism-Specific Oversight Matters

Malaysia’s tourism sector depends heavily on structured mobility, trained guides, regulated transport, and licensed agencies. Tourism vehicles do more than move people — they influence visitor safety, experience quality and the reliability of Malaysia’s broader tourism ecosystem.

With domestic and foreign vehicles operating in increasingly blurred spaces, stakeholders argue that the country needs a central authority that specialises in tourism behaviour, tourism compliance, and tourism-related safety expectations. They believe that restoring MOTAC’s regulatory authority aligns with the needs of a modern tourism landscape and protects the roles of licensed Malaysian operators who have shaped the industry for decades. PRESS STATEMENT-TOUR VEHICLES R…

Protecting Malaysia’s Tourism Future

As Malaysia prepares for a new chapter of tourism recovery and growth, the country stands at a pivotal moment. Tourists arriving from Singapore, Thailand and beyond expect safe travel, reliable transport and services supported by credible operators. Malaysian businesses — especially those in border regions — want the same clarity, fairness and security. A regulatory structure that protects travellers while empowering compliant operators is not simply an administrative matter but a foundation for Malaysia’s tourism reputation in the years to come.

Industry leaders believe that restoring MOTAC’s authority would not only strengthen cross-border cooperation but also reinforce Malaysia’s commitment to providing safe, regulated and tourism-focused mobility for millions of visitors.