Public Transportation in Malaysia
Transport in Malaysia started to develop during British colonial rule, and the
country's transport network is now diverse and developed. Malaysia's road
network is extensive, covering 144,403 km, including 1,821 km of expressways.
The main highway of the country extends over 800 km, reaching the Thai border
from Singapore. The network of roads in Peninsular Malaysia is of high quality,
whilst the road system in East Malaysia is not as well developed. The main modes
of transport in Peninsular Malaysia include buses, trains, cars and to an
extent, commercial travel on flights.
Taxis are found in all major cities, and most have meters – although you can’t
always rely on the drivers to use it..
Bicycle rickshaws (trishaws) supplement the taxi service in George Town and
Melaka and are definitely handy ways of getting around the older parts of town,
which have convoluted and narrow streets.
In major cities there are also buses, which are extremely cheap and convenient
once you figure out which one is going your way. Kuala Lumpur also has commuter
trains, a
Mass Rapid
Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and a
Monorail system.
Naturally the main transportation hub is from its capital, Kuala Lumpur.
In Malaysian Borneo, once you’re out of the big cities, you’re basically on your
own and must either walk or hitch. If you’re really in the bush, of course,
riverboats and airplanes are the only alternatives to lengthy jungle treks.
BY AIR
Getting to Malaysia is easy with over 40 airlines, including Malaysia's flag
carrier, Malaysia Airlines (MAS). All flights arrive and depart at the new
state-of-the-art Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) located at Sepang,
about 50 km or an hour's drive south of Kuala Lumpur, the country's capital.
From KLIA, visitors can take connecting flights to most major cities and towns
in Malaysia as well as to Sabah and Sarawak. The airport is well equipped with
the latest facilities and services to cater passengers either arriving into the
country or on a transit to other destinations.
The national carrier, MAS, currently flies to
more than a hundred destinations worldwide. There are also several budget
airlines serving popular tourist destinations, including Kuala Lumpur, Kuala
Terengganu, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Pangkor, Taman Negara, Kuantan,
Ipoh, Penang, Malacca, and Langkawi. These airlines include
Air Asia,
Batik Air Malaysia and
MYAirline.
BY ROAD
Buses are an inexpensive way to travel in Malaysia. Most, if not all buses in
Kuala Lumpur (KL) are air-conditioned but there are still non-air-conditioned
buses in smaller towns around the country. Buses plying routes within towns and
cities typically charge fares according to the distance covered while interstate
buses have fixed rates.
Taxis in major cities are usually fitted with meters. KL metered fare system is
RM3.00 for the first 1 km and subsequent 115 metres is RM0.10. Should a taxi be
called by phone there is a surcharge of RM2.00, and also surcharge of RM1.00 for
items placed in the car boot or trunk. If a cabbie uses an expressway, there'll
be toll charges and this is borne by the passenger.
Travelling to Kuala Lumpur
International Airport (KLIA) = metered fare + additional RM12.00.
Smaller town taxis charge a fixed rate and its best to settle on a price before
getting into the taxi.
e-Hailing services are a popular and recommended mode of transportation in
Malaysia. They provide convenient and efficient travel options for both locals
and tourists in the country.
BY RAIL
It is possible to travel by rail within and to Peninsular Malaysia via Thailand
and from Singapore. Malayan Railways or
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM)
connects all major towns in the Peninsular. First, Second or Economy Class
air-conditioned coaches are available.
The northbound Ekspres Langkawi departs nightly from Kuala Lumpur to Arau in
Kedah. Arriving in the morning, it then proceeds to Hatyai, Thailand before
returning back to Arau in the evening.
Senandung Malam is a KL-Butterworth-KL and KL-Singapore-KL sectional nightly
service. Sleeping berths are provided in the first and second class coaches.
All express services have a restaurant coach serving local and continental
cuisine. Tickets may be purchased 60 days in advance from the date of travel.
Children aged from four to twelve are charged half the adult fare whilst those
below four travel free. Available to foreign tourists is the 30-day or 10-day
Tourist Railpass which provides unlimited travel on KTM during that period.
Rail transport in Kuala Lumpur comprises heavy rail (including
Mass Rapid
Transit (MRT) and KTM Commuter Rail), light rapid transit (LRT), Monorail, Airport
Rail Link and a future High Speed Rail Line between KL and Singapore. Heavy rail
is mostly used for intercity passenger and freight transport as well as some
urban public transport, while LRTs are used for intra-city urban public
transport and some special uses, such as transporting passengers between airport
buildings. There are two commuter rail services linking Kuala Lumpur with the
KLIA.
BY SEA
There are several ports of entry in Malaysia, namely Penang, Port Klang, Kuantan,
Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
Coastal ferries sail frequently between Penang and Butterworth, carrying both
passengers as well as vehicles from the mainland to the island. Apart from that,
there are many ferry/ boat services available for mainland-to-island and
island-to-island travel around the country.
Fast boats and small river crafts are a popular way of getting about in Sabah
and Sarawak especially to the more isolated settlements.
There are also sea cruises and river-cruises run by local tour agents. For sea
travel within the country there are services available from Port Klang (Selangor)
to Kuantan (Pahang) and to Sabah or Sarawak. Besides that, there are also
holiday cruises that take passengers to neighbouring countries.