Malaysia transport guide

Public transport

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia has the most developed public transport system in mainland SE Asia outside Singapore.

MRT (Mass Rapid Transport): Kajang Line (Kwasa Damansara-Kajang) and Putrajaya Line (Kwasa Damansara-Putrajaya Sentral). Both are modern, automated, air-conditioned. Fares 1-6.50 MYR.
LRT (Light Rail Transit): Kelana Jaya Line, Ampang Line, Sri Petaling Line cover most of KL and suburbs. Fares 1-4 MYR.
KTM Komuter: suburban rail covering KL-Port Klang, KL-Seremban, KL-Batu Caves. Fares 1-10 MYR.
Monorail: KL Monorail (8 stations, KL Sentral-Bukit Bintang-Titiwangsa). Fares 1-4 MYR.
Rapid KL buses: extensive network. Fares 1-4 MYR.
GoKL free buses: three routes in central KL (free, air-conditioned).
KLIA Ekspres & KLIA Transit: airport train, 28 minutes KL Sentral-KLIA, 55 MYR one way.

Penang

Rapid Penang buses cover the island and mainland. Fares 1-4 MYR. The Hop-On Hop-Off bus is popular with tourists and relocators exploring the island.
CAT free shuttle bus in George Town (free, 4 routes).
Ferries: George Town-Butterworth (across the channel), for connecting to the KTM Komuter from Butterworth.

Johor Bahru

Causeway Link buses (CW series) connect JB to Singapore's MRT and bus terminals.
JB public transport is limited compared to KL. Most residents drive.

Grab: dominant nationwide. Available in KL, Penang, JB, Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching. Car types: GrabCar (standard), GrabCar Premium, GrabCar XL (for 6 passengers). Fares are reasonable. No motorbike option (illegal in Malaysia).
AirAsia Ride: growing competitor, often slightly cheaper than Grab in KL.
Metered taxis: rare in KL. Always use the app. Street-hailed taxis often refuse the meter.
Public bus as a backup: in KL, Rapid KL buses complement the rail network.

Foreigners can drive on an International Driving Permit (IDP) for up to 3 months after entry.
After 3 months, you need a Malaysian driving licence. Conversion is straightforward:
Holders of foreign licences (English, from a recognised country) can convert at JPJ by passing a theory test (computerised, available in English) ^[1].
No practical test is needed for a straight conversion from selected countries (including UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France). Other countries require a practical test.
Requirements: passport with valid long-term visa (MM2H or Employment Pass), original foreign licence + JPJ-certified translation, certificate of residence.
Fee: roughly 200-300 MYR.
Malaysian driving licence is valid for up to 5 years (or until the visa expires, whichever is shorter).
Driving on the left.

Malaysia has a domestic automotive industry (Proton, Perodua) with lower prices than imported cars. Imported cars (Toyota, Honda, Mercedes, BMW) are subject to high excise duties (60-100%+).
Buying a car: Perodua Myvi / Axia (city car) 35,000-55,000 MYR; Proton X50 (SUV) 80,000-110,000 MYR; Honda Civic 130,000-150,000 MYR. Second-hand prices are lower.
Buying a motorbike: less common for expats than in Thailand/Indonesia. KL is not motorbike-friendly. In Penang and smaller towns, 150cc scooters are practical. A new Yamaha Nmax 155: 10,000-13,000 MYR.
Registration: vehicles are registered with JPJ. The grant / registration card (Geran) is the ownership document. Verify at JPJ before buying second-hand.
Road tax: annual (varies by engine size, roughly 80-1,000 MYR for a standard sedan). Insurance: get comprehensive cover (1,500-4,000 MYR/year for a mid-size sedan).
Toll: Malaysian highways are tolled. Touch 'n Go card or RFID tag required for toll payments. The North-South Expressway tolls KL-Penang (300 km) about 50 MYR.
Parking: paid parking in KL (JomParkir app, Touch 'n Go eWallet). Many condos include 1-2 parking bays in the rental.

Road conditions are generally good by SE Asian standards. Major highways are well-maintained.
Malaysia has a moderate road fatality rate (about 23 per 100,000 population per year). Motorcyclists account for about 60% of road deaths.
Speed cameras (AES) are present on highways. Fines are sent by post and must be paid before vehicle registration renewal.
Drink-driving limit: 50 mg/dL. Enforcement is moderate.
Emergency: 999 (ambulance, police, fire) or 112 from a mobile.

Growing cycling culture, especially in KL's Saturday/Sunday Car Free Morning (7-9 AM on Jalan Raja Laut-Jalan Parlimen). Group rides are common.
Putrajaya, Penang (George Town), Ipoh, and Melaka are bicycle-friendly for casual cycling.
Road cycling groups exist; many expat cyclists join Saturday morning rides.
No bicycle registration or licensing.

Trains: KTMB (Keretapi Tanah Melayu). KTM ETS (Electric Train Service) from KL Sentral to Butterworth (Penang), Ipoh, Padang Besar (Thai border), and Gemas. KL-Penang: 4 hours, 50-80 MYR. KL-Ipoh: 2.5 hours, 30-50 MYR. Good value and comfortable.
Buses: Aeroline, KKKL, Starmart express buses between all major cities. KL-Penang ~4 hours, 30-50 MYR. KL-Singapore ~5 hours (including border crossing), 35-50 MYR.
Domestic flights: AirAsia, Malindo, Firefly, Malaysia Airlines. KL-Penang ~1 hour, 30-150 MYR. KL-Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) ~2.5 hours, 80-300 MYR.
Car rental: 100-250 MYR/day for a sedan. Drive on the left.

This page is not legal advice. Verify current requirements with JPJ.