Malaysians have been urged to make an effort to wake up earlier so that not only can they prevent getting stuck in traffic, but also to ease traffic flow in the capital city.
This comes after the government launched a behavioural-based initiative named “Bangun KL: Ke Arah Kuala Lumpur Yang Lebih Sejahtera” that aims to address KL’s traffic woes by offering targeted incentives to commuters to enter the city earlier.
Reclaiming time lost in traffic
At the initiative’s launch, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the goal of “Bangun KL!” is to redistribute peak-hour traffic by shifting commuter habits.
“A good city is not just one that looks attractive, but one that functions well for daily life. This is not about slogans, but about changing how the city moves every morning.”
Yeoh added that 1.2 million vehicles enter Kuala Lumpur every morning, with peak congestion taking place between 8am and 9am.
If all vehicles enter within that one-hour window, congestion is inevitable. However, if even 10% of commuters shift to arrive earlier, traffic flow will improve significantly.”
Yeoh said the initiative is part of a broader effort to improve urban liveability by helping Malaysians reclaim time lost in traffic.
“The role of government is not only to build infrastructure, but to enable people to regain their time — time for family, for health, and for a better quality of life.”
Affordable coffee at the ready
To encourage Malaysians in participating in the “Bangun KL!” initiative, the government is partnering with Zus Coffee in offering coffee for commuters.
250 Zus Coffee outlets across KL and Putrajaya will be taking part and selected drinks, including Americano and latte, will be sold from as low as RM5 for purchases made between 7am and 8am via the Zus mobile application.
Yeoh said “Bangun KL!” is completely voluntary and isn’t intended to force Malaysians into changing existing behaviours, but to provide practical incentives for those willing to adjust their routines.
“The coffee promotion is just one example of how incentives could encourage people to start their day earlier. This is not about asking everyone to drink coffee, but about offering added value to those who already do,” she said.
“Bangun KL!” will run from April 9 until the end of 2026 and a special programme for senior citizens is also in the pipelines too.
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