The government is considering implementing congestion charges in George Town, Kuala Lumpur, and Johor Bahru as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said yesterday(Feb 27).
The proposal is still under study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation.
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The study is evaluating factors such as the mechanism for implementing the charges, the potential reduction in traffic volume, and the expected increase in public transport usage. It is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Up to 20% traffic reduction expected in KL
Dr Zaliha noted that congestion charges could reduce traffic in Kuala Lumpur by as much as 20%.
The charge must be set at a balanced rate—it should be high enough to discourage motorists from using certain roads but not so high that it becomes a burden on consumers.
“Within the next two to three years, the situation is expected to recover as anticipated. Therefore, the implementation of congestion charges can actually have positive effects, especially from an economic perspective for small businesses,” she explained.
“As for Kuala Lumpur, particularly in the logistics and delivery sector, we can consider several measures.
For instance, time-based exemptions for logistics vehicles could be introduced, allowing them to operate without incurring congestion charges during specific hours. This is something we can look into.”
For ride-hailing vehicles, taxis, private vehicles owned by building occupants, or hotel guests in the Central Business District (CBD), the ministry will also look into exploring the possibility of offering discounts or exemptions from congestion charges as incentives.
As part of the implementation of congestion fess, Zaliha said that the government will ensure continuous engagement sessions with industry representatives, business communities, logistics operators, and other stakeholders.
This will allow us to gather insights and develop a fair, equitable, and effective implementation plan for everyone.
Learning from global models
She also cited international congestion control measures as references for the study, including:
- New York: An electronic licence plate reader system that automatically imposes charges when a vehicle is detected.
- Singapore: Electronic road pricing that charges motorists based on time and zone.
- London: A congestion charge zone requiring vehicles to pay fees during peak hours.
- Jakarta & Beijing: Road space rationing, where vehicle entry is restricted based on odd or even plate numbers.
Public transport readiness a key factor
Responding to Datuk Azman Nasrudin (PN-Padang Serai), who inquired about the mechanism and expected traffic reduction, Dr Zaliha highlighted that 1.5 million vehicles enter and exit Kuala Lumpur daily, while public transport ridership is only at 25% capacity.
She agreed with Transport Minister Anthony Loke that congestion charges should not be introduced until the public transport system is fully improved and integrated.
On February 19, Loke stated in the Dewan Rakyat that the plan will only proceed once Malaysia’s public transport infrastructure is ready to support the shift.
