Getting around in Kuala Lumpur
Transport in KL is chaotic at the best of times. Cars drive on the left hand side of the road, which have white lines acting as road markers while emergency lanes are supposed to be reserved for emergencies. Traffic lights are not always adhered to; this goes for other road rules as well.
If you do decide to brave the roads of Malaysia it is important to be aware that car theft is a big problem in Malaysia. Taking simple precautions such as not leaving your keys in the ignition, even for a few seconds or locking doors and closing window are good places to start. Expats should install an alarm or immobiliser and be wary of using valet services, as there have been cases of keys being duplicated and then cars stolen at a later date. Some people even go so far as to sandblast their registration onto the windows as this make it more difficult for the car to be resold.
If you are in possession of a valid International Drivers License then it is relatively simple to get a Probationary Driving License in Malaysia. You will need a number of documents, such as your original drivers license, a translated script if it is not in English, a colour photograph, passport, payment and a completed application form, a work permit that is valid for more than three months is also needed. Due to the unpredictable nature of other drivers in Malaysia, driving is not recommended. While the government does subsidise fuel prices, they are beginning to phase this out and so the price of petrol will begin to reflect current world fuel price trends.
Public transport includes taxis, buses, trains and the subway or metro system. Taxis in Kuala Lumpur are available 24 hours a day. Taxis charge a RM2.00 flag fall and passengers have to pay 10 sen per 150m, there are extra charges for phone bookings and after midnight. In other parts of Malaysia taxis generally have a fixed rate depending on how far you will be travelling and taxis from Kuala Lumpur International Airport are prepaid at a counter within the building.
Malaysia has an extensive bus network, especially in Kuala Lumpur. There are a number of bus services available, such as Metrobus, Rapid KL and City Liner. Buses are cheap and efficient provided there are no traffic jams. The government is promising a dedicated bus lane, which should come into effect in 2011. Bus fares are divided into zones, travelling within one zone costs RM1.00 while crossing into four zones goes up to RM3.00, Rapidpass cards can be purchased and money is loaded onto the card which can then be swiped for bus and subway use.
In Kuala Lumpur trains and the subways are integrated into the bus system which makes it easy to transfer from one system to another, it also means that commuters don’t have to pay separate fees when moving from the subway onto a bus route. Subway and bus fares range from 70 sen up to RM3.00 for trips between one and 20 stops. The subways is the most reliable form of public transport in Kuala Lumpur, however this does mean that it can get very crowded as everyone tries to make it to and from work. Transport routes, availability and commute times are a significant factor expats will have to get used to when moving to Malaysia.
If you do decide to brave the roads of Malaysia it is important to be aware that car theft is a big problem in Malaysia. Taking simple precautions such as not leaving your keys in the ignition, even for a few seconds or locking doors and closing window are good places to start. Expats should install an alarm or immobiliser and be wary of using valet services, as there have been cases of keys being duplicated and then cars stolen at a later date. Some people even go so far as to sandblast their registration onto the windows as this make it more difficult for the car to be resold.If you are in possession of a valid International Drivers License then it is relatively simple to get a Probationary Driving License in Malaysia. You will need a number of documents, such as your original drivers license, a translated script if it is not in English, a colour photograph, passport, payment and a completed application form, a work permit that is valid for more than three months is also needed. Due to the unpredictable nature of other drivers in Malaysia, driving is not recommended. While the government does subsidise fuel prices, they are beginning to phase this out and so the price of petrol will begin to reflect current world fuel price trends.
Public transport includes taxis, buses, trains and the subway or metro system. Taxis in Kuala Lumpur are available 24 hours a day. Taxis charge a RM2.00 flag fall and passengers have to pay 10 sen per 150m, there are extra charges for phone bookings and after midnight. In other parts of Malaysia taxis generally have a fixed rate depending on how far you will be travelling and taxis from Kuala Lumpur International Airport are prepaid at a counter within the building.
Malaysia has an extensive bus network, especially in Kuala Lumpur. There are a number of bus services available, such as Metrobus, Rapid KL and City Liner. Buses are cheap and efficient provided there are no traffic jams. The government is promising a dedicated bus lane, which should come into effect in 2011. Bus fares are divided into zones, travelling within one zone costs RM1.00 while crossing into four zones goes up to RM3.00, Rapidpass cards can be purchased and money is loaded onto the card which can then be swiped for bus and subway use.
In Kuala Lumpur trains and the subways are integrated into the bus system which makes it easy to transfer from one system to another, it also means that commuters don’t have to pay separate fees when moving from the subway onto a bus route. Subway and bus fares range from 70 sen up to RM3.00 for trips between one and 20 stops. The subways is the most reliable form of public transport in Kuala Lumpur, however this does mean that it can get very crowded as everyone tries to make it to and from work. Transport routes, availability and commute times are a significant factor expats will have to get used to when moving to Malaysia.
