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Free Malaysia Today
15 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Bold policies needed to boost use of public transport in KL to 70%, say experts
The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan calls for a transport network in which people can travel from place to place, with transit stations within walking distance of less than 400m. PETALING JAYA : The government must make major investments and bold policy changes to meet the goal of 70% public transport usage by 2040 under the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan, say two transport experts. Transport consultant Rosli Khan said many improvements are needed to raise the current public transport usage from below or around 20% to 70%. Rosli Azad Khan. Rosli said the public transport system in the city suffers from poor coverage in suburban areas, weak first-mile last-mile connectivity, and a lack of dedicated bus lanes. 'Many residential and commercial areas aren't connected to the MRT, LRT, commuter trains, or bus networks,' he said. Even where buses are available, they compete with cars on congested roads, making journeys slow and unreliable. Rosli said land use policies must shift to favour public transport, as urban development remains overly dependent on private vehicles, making behavioural change more difficult. He added that the authorities must provide information about the incentives that will motivate people to switch from private vehicles to public transport. 'Without radical and consistent measures, this target is more likely to remain an ambition rather than reality,' he said. During a briefing on Tuesday, mayor Maimunah Sharif said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) may offer incentives to increase population density around rail transit stations. The local plan calls for a transport network that allows people to travel from place to place with transit stations within walking distance of less than 400m. Most of the zoning plan focuses on aligning with Kuala Lumpur's rail system, particularly the MRT3 network. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, founder of think tank My Mobility Vision, said poor planning and weak coordination will hinder the achievement of the 70% target. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. 'We are still relying on a fragmented administrative structure, siloed planning and inconsistent operational funding. Public transport will never become the people's top choice if we continue this way,' he told FMT. He said the dissolution of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), which handled public transport planning and coordination until 2018, has seen multiple ministries and local authorities take over its role. 'Our system is fragmented. Planning, funding, and operations are managed by different agencies with no single body fully in charge,' said Wan Agyl, who was formerly head of policy and planning at SPAD. He said that despite new MRT lines and bus routes, public transport usage remains low – at around 25% in the Klang Valley – because of poor access, traffic congestion, and a lack of safe, walkable paths. Apart from urging the government to reclaim road space from private vehicles, Wan Agyl said public transport users need dedicated bus lanes, safe walking and cycling paths. He added that this can only happen if there is real political will. 'The question isn't if we can do it, it's whether we're willing,' he said.
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Express
DBKL aims for 70% of residents to use public transport by 2040
Published on: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 24, 2025 By: Natalie Chan, FMT Text Size: The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan has a strong focus on the city's public transport network, said mayor Maimunah Sharif. Kuala Lumpur: The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (PTKL) aims for 70% of the public to be using public transport by 2040, says city mayor Maimunah Sharif. This is in conjunction with PTKL 2040's primary goal of shaping Kuala Lumpur into an all-inclusive 'green' city. In particular, DBKL aims to implement an efficient, low-carbon mobility system city-wide. With 191 initiatives outlined in the plan, PTKL's 'City for All' theme places a heavy focus on sustainability, with the development and maintenance of green spaces a key concept in its spatial planning. During a press briefing, Maimunah said DBKL might provide incentives to increase population density around transit zones where LRT or MRT stations are located. 'This is common in Japan, where people work, live, and play around transit zones. This helps lessen congestion and steers us in the direction of a low-carbon city,' she said. Much of PTKL 2040's zoning revolves around coordinating with the framework of Kuala Lumpur's railway systems, especially the upcoming MRT3 network. Advertisement PTKL aims to create a transport network that allows the public to go from place to place with a walking distance of less than 400m. There have been various public concerns regarding the accessibility of Kuala Lumpur's public transport system in recent years. Transport think tank My Mobility Vision identified first- and last-mile connectivity as one of the primary issues steering the public towards private vehicle use. Last month, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the use of public transport in Malaysia was still low at around 25%. Zahid suggested that this could be improved with a shift in user attitudes through a combination of reliable public transport systems and comprehensive awareness campaigns. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Anwar says KL's future is public transport, not private cars, as 2040 blueprint unveiled
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said public transport will serve as the backbone of future development in Malaysia's capital under the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (PTKL40). He said new infrastructure projects under the Transport Ministry, including the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), have been identified to support this shift. 'In this local plan, the city hall's priority is not private vehicles, but public transport. We make decisions in favour of the majority,' he said during his speech at the PTKL40 launch, held at Institut Latihan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) in Cheras here. 'That's why I said new projects identified under the Transport Ministry, such as the MRT and others, are meant to form the backbone of the city, ensuring comfort for everyone.' Adding to Anwar's remarks, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the plan aims for 70 per cent public transport usage by 2040, supported by the Traffic Master Plan and pedestrian and cycling routes. 'Initiatives such as micromobility and covered green pathways are direct examples of how this plan is being translated into action,' she said in her speech. Maimunah added that DBKL is also developing the Urban Digital Twin Kuala Lumpur, which will enable real-time updates of development data. 'This will ensure that our policies and actions are based on facts, not perceptions, a practice that reflects the values of accountability and integrity, and marks a reform in governance at DBKL,' she added. Meanwhile, Anwar also highlighted that all new housing developments must include solar power as part of their design under PTKL40. 'These are new requirements that have not existed in our regulations or laws before. This will ensure the sustainability of the city,' he added. PTKL40 was gazetted in May this year and came into force on June 11. The plan incorporates 12 development principles, including site suitability, basic amenities, utility networks, and environmental harmony, to ensure that new developments do not burden existing systems but instead strengthen them. Maimunah said the plan also identifies reserved areas for future facilities and introduces concepts such as stratified, mixed-use, and integrated development. 'We do not want Kuala Lumpur to be merely a dense city, but one that is friendly and human-centric, another core principle within the Malaysia Madani framework,' she said. PTKL2040 also sets a minimum target of 20 square metres of open space per city resident, equivalent to over 4,700 hectares. To promote a healthy and active lifestyle, community parks are set to be linked through a 254-kilometre Green Connector network. The plan also targets the development of 305,000 affordable housing units by 2040. Building height controls are being introduced to preserve the character of low-intensity areas. A total of 139 areas have been identified as having redevelopment potential, with a focus on ageing public housing estates.
The Star
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vivekananda Ashram land zoned as ‘main commercial' under KL local plan
The public can check the draft KLLP 2040 at Menara DBKL 1 until May 9. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star THE Brickfields area where the Vivekananda Ashram is located is still zoned as 'main commercial' under the revised draft of the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (KLLP) 2040. The Save Vivekananda Ashram Brickfields (SVAB) action group expressed its disappointment that its request for the ashram area to be zoned as a public community facility was not taken into account when the revised plan was drafted. Lawyer Deva Kunjari Sambanthan, who is among those advocating for the iconic landmark's preservation, said the group was worried that the land where the ashram is sited could be designated for development in the future. 'The area is zoned as 'main commercial', the second highest in terms of allowed density. 'Although Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers responded to our queries saying that the site will be protected since the Vivekananda Ashram is classified as a 'Category 1 Heritage Building' under the National Heritage Act (Act 645), we are not convinced. 'It should be maintained as a public community facility zone so that no development will take place in that area,' she said. Lucky Garden resident P. Tamilwanan said they were concerned about the possibility of heritage buildings being degazetted. 'We do not feel comfortable about this. We do not want to allow any room for development to take place,' he said. DBKL is holding open-day sessions until May 9 from 9.30am to 4.30pm on the KLLP 2040 draft. Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said, 'We have gone through the necessary steps, including going through public participation and holding hearings. 'The Prime Minister has also been briefed about the plan. 'We plan to launch and gazette the KLLP 2040 this month,' she told StarMetro. 'This open day is to inform the public about the draft plan and its changes. 'The public can see if their feedback was taken into consideration in the draft plan as well as the reasons why certain changes were not incorporated. 'We want to increase DBKL's transparency and accountability,' Maimunah added. Residential groups, architects and town planners as well as other stakeholders had come on the first day to see the finalised plan. Some accepted the changes of the finalised plan while others expressed disappointment. Lembah Pantai Federal Territories Residents Representative Council (MPPWP) sub-zone 3 secretary Michelles Foo said the draft plan took part of their feedback into consideration. 'I understand that the authorities cannot take into account all feedback from residents but I can see that some of our suggestions have been incorporated into the draft plan,' she said. 'For example, one of the areas in Kampung Kerinchi was earmarked for development in the previous draft but DBKL changed the land use to public community facility,' she added. Former Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan, who was also present at the open day, said more efforts should be made to develop city parks. 'We should have more parks, like Hyde Park in London, to make Kuala Lumpur a liveable city. 'A task force must be established to manage development in the city,' he said. Nor Hisham also suggested Bandar Malaysia be constructed between the Selangor and Perak borders.
