28-2-2025 (KUALA LUMPUR) Transport officials in Malaysia are mulling over a contentious new scheme to tackle urban gridlock in three major metropolises, with Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur and George Town in Penang earmarked for potential congestion charges.
The proposal, still under scrutiny by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research and the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation, has sparked a mixed response from various levels of government. Initial findings suggest the measure could slash Kuala Lumpur’s traffic volume by as much as 20 per cent.
However, Johor state officials have expressed significant reservations about the plan’s viability. Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, who chairs Johor’s Works, Transportation and Infrastructure committee, deemed Johor Bahru ill-prepared for such an initiative, citing the absence of a comprehensive public transport masterplan.
“For now, Johor Bahru is not ready for this,” Fazli remarked, emphasising the need for park-and-ride facilities outside the central business district as a prerequisite for any congestion charging scheme.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Zaliha Mustafa confirmed that the ongoing study, expected to conclude this year, would examine implementation mechanisms alongside potential traffic reduction benefits. She acknowledged the delicate balancing act required in setting appropriate fee levels.
“The charge cannot be too low but should discourage motorists from using certain roads. We also do not want the charge to be too high, which can burden consumers,” Zaliha told Parliament on 27 February.
The study draws inspiration from similar systems worldwide, including New York’s electronic licence plate readers, Singapore’s road pricing mechanism, and London’s congestion zones.
Revealing stark statistics about current transport patterns, Zaliha noted approximately 1.5 million vehicles traverse Kuala Lumpur daily, whilst public transport operates at merely 25 per cent capacity. A 2020 study by Prasarana Malaysia Bhd estimated that traffic congestion had cost the nation RM20 billion in economic losses.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke has previously voiced scepticism about the immediate feasibility of congestion charges, arguing that a reliable public transport system must first be established. This sentiment echoes statements from his predecessor, Wee Ka Siong, who in 2022 insisted that comprehensive public transport networks should precede any congestion charge implementation.
The proposal forms part of the broader Kuala Lumpur Traffic Master Plan 2040, which aims to create a holistic ecosystem encouraging greater public transport usage whilst tackling the capital’s notorious traffic woes.
