Public transport is often one of the first things travellers notice when exploring a new city, and one Indonesian woman’s comparison between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta has sparked quite a discussion online.
After spending a week travelling around Kuala Lumpur using public transport, she shared her experience on Threads, saying that while KL had several things she liked, she still preferred Jakarta’s public transport system overall.
‘Jakarta’s public transport is still much better’
According to the woman, she spent about a week exploring Kuala Lumpur using buses, the MRT and LRT.
She said Jakarta’s public transport, especially its buses, felt better to her, though she acknowledged that this could partly be because Jakarta’s system is newer.
However, there were several things about KL that impressed her.
She praised the way many train stations are directly connected to shopping malls, making it easier for passengers to get around without having to walk outdoors for long distances.
She also felt KL was more comfortable for pedestrians.
Walking around KL is more comfortable. The pavements are good and the roads are good too.”
However, buses were a different story.
She admitted that while she was comfortable taking the MRT and LRT alone, she would think twice about boarding a bus by herself.
She also complained that waiting times could be long.
Said trains did not always arrive on time
Another issue she highlighted was train frequency.
The woman claimed that trains sometimes took longer than the estimated waiting time shown at stations.
She recalled seeing information stating that a train would arrive every 10 minutes, only to find herself waiting more than 10 minutes.
For her, Jakarta remained better when it came to punctuality.
She also noticed fewer employees and security personnel at KL stations compared to Jakarta.
As for staff friendliness, however, she joked that workers outside Indonesia appeared to be similarly unfriendly anyway.
The woman later added that she found some KL bus drivers rude and felt that they drove too fast.
Some Malaysians agreed with her
Her comments drew mixed reactions from Malaysians.
While some appeared unhappy with the comparison, others said her criticism of KL’s bus system was fair.
One Malaysian wrote that locals themselves rarely use buses and said criticism was useful when there were things that needed improvement.
Another commenter similarly questioned why some Malaysians were being so defensive, saying that the woman had made a valid point about buses in Malaysia.
One Malaysian even shared memories of KL’s minibuses during the 1980s and 1990s, recalling how vehicles meant for around 20 passengers could sometimes be packed with 30 people or more.
The Indonesian woman replied that Jakarta could also become extremely crowded during rush hour, with passengers occasionally pushing one another.
‘Your country is actually very good’
Following some negative replies, the woman clarified that she was simply giving her honest opinion based on her experience.
She stressed that she was not saying Malaysia was bad, pointing out that she actually liked many things about the country.
Your country is really good. The roads are neat, the asphalt is good and the government is okay.”
She added that she would similarly accept criticism about Indonesia, including complaints about its government or poorly maintained areas.
The woman also joked that Malaysians appeared more nationalistic than Indonesians, judging by some of the responses she received.
Despite the heated comments, she ended on a positive note, saying she hoped both Malaysia and Indonesia would continue improving their public spaces.
