Urban traffic congestion is a common challenge for public transport in Malaysia. Buses in cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor often encounter delays due to high vehicle volumes, roadworks, and peak-hour traffic.
Delays reduce schedule reliability, increase fuel consumption, and raise operational costs, as buses spend more time idling or moving slowly.
Operators use several measures to address these challenges. Bus lanes and signal prioritisation are implemented on key routes. Real-time tracking and route planning help maintain timetables, while digital platforms provide passengers with live service updates to support journey planning.
Regional comparisons show different approaches to congestion management. Singapore operates about 6 800 buses for 6 million residents, supported by dedicated lanes and extensive signal priority systems. Hong Kong’s Kowloon Motor Bus runs around 5 000 buses for 7 million people with similar infrastructure. Malaysia operates the BRT Sunway Line in Selangor, the country’s first elevated bus rapid transit system, offering dedicated lanes and electric buses to bypass road traffic. Plans for additional BRT corridors, including in Iskandar Malaysia and Penang, aim to expand this model. In the Philippines, the Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system seeks to ease congestion through exclusive corridors and integrated terminals, though progress varies across lines still under construction.
By contrast, Rapid KL serves the Klang Valley with about 1 000 buses, highlighting the impact of fleet size and urban congestion on operational efficiency.
Although traffic congestion is largely outside the control of bus operators, infrastructure improvements and technology can help minimise its impact, supporting more reliable and efficient bus services.
