Infrastructure (Roads)

Malaysia's road system is extensive and is among the finest in Asia. It covers a distance of 63,445 km. Excellent local and long distance bus, taxi cab and tourist coach services operate throughout the country. The total number of vehicles, registered at the end of 1990 was about 5.2 million.

The interurban North-South Expressway, New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) and the Federal Highway Route 2 (FHR2) are the largest road transportation infrastructure in Peninsula Malaysia. The 848 km expressway links major industrial areas and urban centers in the country commencing from Bukit Kayu Hitam in the northern Kedah State to Johor Bahru in the state of Johor in the south.

The East-West Highway serves as part of the Asian Highway System linking Thailand with Malaysia. The completed portion covers 115 km.

Improvements in road infrastructure and extensive road network coupled with increases in population and income levels had resulted in an increase in the ownership of motorvehicles. In 1993, there were 5.4 million motorvehicles of which 38.6% were motorcars, 54.8% motorcycles and 6.6% goods vehicles. This increased by 50.5% to reach 8.1 million motorvehicles in 1997, with motorcycles accounting for 53% of the total, followed by motorcars 40% and goods vehicles 7%. The number of motorvehicles per 100 population, which is an indicator of the quality of life of the population, increased from 27.6 in 1993 to 37.6 in 1997. Concern over the traffic congestion problems and increased number of road accidents arising from the increased private vehicles usage has led to measures to create an efficient and reliable urban transport system.

The government is focussed on the further development of an efficient and integrated public transport system. Currently, buses, taxis, trains and airplanes represent the major modes of transportation, be it inter or intra city/towns. The number of buses have increased from 29,929 in 1993 to 41,912 in 1997 while the number of taxis, hire and drive cars increased from 44.040 in 1993 to 66,573 in 1997. To improve the quality, efficiency and reliability of the bus and taxi services, several measures have been taken, such as amalgamation of transport companies, route rationalisation, provision of supporting facilities such as terminals, depots, signages and route information system.

Rail passenger traffic, namely the intercity passenger services, was 6.5 million in 1993. But this decreased to 5.4 million in 1997 due to the availability of other modes of faster transport services. The total number of air passengers however increased from 22.8 million in 1993 to 30.5 million in 1997, partly accounted for by domestic and regional expansion of services.

To facilitate intercity transportation, the rail has also been developed as an alternative regional commuter system. This includes the KTM commuter for regional operations and LRT II for metropolitan operations.