KUALA LUMPUR – The government is considering introducing a congestion charge in Kuala Lumpur, which is expected to reduce traffic congestion by around 20%, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
She said the initiative, which remains under study, would require the charge to be set at a rate that discourages motorists from using certain roads, Bernama reported.
“However, the government does not want the charge to be set too high, as it should not place an additional burden on road users,” she said in response to a question from Datuk Azman Nasrudin (PN-Padang Serai) during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Azman had asked about the mechanism for implementing the congestion charge and the estimated reduction in traffic congestion expected by the government.
Dr Zaliha cited a 2020 study by Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, which found that the country incurred losses amounting to RM20 billion due to traffic congestion.
She said the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and the Malaysia Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) are conducting the study on the charge’s implementation.
“This study covers various aspects, including implementation mechanisms, projected reductions in traffic volume, and expected increases in public transport usage if the charge is introduced,” she said.
Dr Zaliha added that the Federal Territories Department (JWP) would ensure efforts to improve Kuala Lumpur’s public transport network are carried out alongside the congestion charge study. - February 27, 2025
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