JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA – 16 April 2024 – The quest for sustainable public transportation has reached a major milestone with Handal Indah Sdn Bhd‘s recent launch of Electric Vehicles (EVs) to augment its Cross-Border operations.

Under the visionary leadership of its Founder, Mr. Lim Han Weng, Handal Indah is investing over RM 80 million to advance its commitment to eco-friendly public transportation initiatives in its Malaysia and Singapore cross-border operations. This investment includes acquiring 60 units of e-buses and establishing charging infrastructures in its depots in Johor.

This landmark achievement has also earned Handal Indah the distinction of being the First Bus Operator to Run Cross-Border Electric Bus Services in Malaysia, as recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records. This recognition comes on the heels of Handal Indah’s deployment of e-buses on its three Cross-Border routes, namely Causeway Link CW3 (Larkin Sentral, Johor, Malaysia – Jurong East, Singapore), CW4 (Larkin Sentral, Johor, Malaysia  – Jurong East, Singapore), and CW6 (Larkin Sentral, Johor, Malaysia – Boon Lay, Singapore).

Yang Berhomat Datuk Onn Hafiz bin Dato’ Ghazi, the Chief Minister of Johor, lauded Handal Indah Sdn Bhd’s investment in electric buses as a substantial step toward sustainability support to the transportation landscape not only in Johor but also in Malaysia.

Causeway Link being a Johor Brand has been one of icon in Johor for helping to assist Malaysians working in Singapore for their daily transport. By investing in sustainable practices, this will encourage other services providers to embrace on this journey as we move towards reducing carbon footprint in our land. This endeavour drives positive change and creates a more eco-conscious, efficient, and enjoyable commuting experience for all.

Mr. Lim Han Weng, the driving force behind this initiative, emphasized the importance of transitioning to greener transport options. He stated “We are committed to go for decarbonization but this will take time and more investments from our side. We are still at an early stage of the electrification in Malaysia, and we are committed to pushing forward to learn and improve from every deployment in order to provide our commuters with cleaner, more efficient and still affordable public transportation.” 

The successful deployment of these vehicles were only made possible through collaboration with partners as part of the value chain namely Liannex Corporation Sdn Bhd and Ecolife Technology Co.,Ltd (Eco Life).

Liannex Corporation Sdn Bhd played a crucial role by being instrumental in procurement these electric buses within the state of Johor. Together, these partnerships have facilitated the acquisition and deployment of electric buses, showcasing a combined effort to advance sustainable and eco-friendly transportation initiatives.

Moreover, Eco Life has also played a role in bolstering Handal Indah’s operations. The company has been instrumental in furnishing essential charging infrastructure for the EV buses operated by Causeway Link, housed in its Johor Depots. This infrastructure not only caters to the charging requirements of cross-border electric buses but also extends to the local routes operated by Handal Indah, utilizing e-buses within Johor.

Looking ahead, Handal Indah has already implemented numerous e-buses on its cross-border looping bus services. Additionally, several routes operated by myBAS Johor Bahru have also incorporated e-buses as part of Handal Indah’s ongoing project with Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD), with myBAS Johor Bahru serving as the network operator.