Malaysian public transport rated best value in ASEAN

Malaysian public transport rated best value in ASEAN

Malaysians are certainly getting their money’s worth in terms of public transport, it seems. According to the Malay Mail – which cited a report by FT Confidential Research – users over here spend pretty much the same as those in other South East Asian countries, but get more or better transport services.

“Indeed, Malaysians spend less as a proportion of their income than ASEAN rivals when it comes to transport,” stated the research arm of the Financial Times. The report follows the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitive Index 2016-2017 released last September, which rated Malaysia 11th out of 138 countries in terms of transport infrastructure.

The country netted a score of 5.7 on the index, with the best score being a 7. “Malaysia’s high WEF scoring can be explained by its having made large infrastructure investments earlier than other ASEAN countries,” said FT Confidential Research, adding that Malaysia increased its spending on transport to 0.7% of its gross domestic product (GDP) last year compared to 0.6% in 2015, and is set to at least match that figure this year.

“One landmark project is the Sungai Buloh-Kajang mass transit line, a driverless commuter rail system that will connect an area north west of the capital Kuala Lumpur with Kajang, a fast-developing town located to the south east,” it said. However, this spending has also resulted in the highest debt-to-GDP level among top ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, according to the report.

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Can anyone explain how Malaysia got a higher rating than Singapore? Not licking Singapore’s ass, but their infrastructure is way ahead of ours no?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 40 Thumb down 26
    • Albert Yong on Apr 04, 2017 at 6:05 pm

      This is biased and tipu. Singapore is far ahead of us. And cheaper too. Don’t forget, Singaporeans earn 10X more than Malaysians. Average Gomen servant there earn about SGD8000 (RM26,000)

      Average Gomen servant in Putrajaya earn Rm1200.

      MRT Singapore average ride SGD3

      Our LRT average ride RM3

      So who got better value? RM26,000 vs RM1200??

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 115 Thumb down 36
      • SG oso pay 10X COE…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 14
        • Shabudin on Apr 05, 2017 at 9:11 am

          Tepat john.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
        • Nasser on Apr 05, 2017 at 9:21 am

          bodo, this talk about public transport. Where got COE come in?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
        • Civic 1.5 Turbo in SG = SGD132k (OTR w/COE)
          Civic 1.5 Turbo in Malaysia = RM136k (OTR)

          1 SGD = around RM3.15, so should be 3X instead
          John, how did you get 10X?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
          • Axia in MY = RM 27,600
            Axia in SG = RM 276,000 (thats correct, 6 figures)

            U do the math, boy.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
        • ducatiscrambler on Apr 06, 2017 at 10:32 am

          Boi, like Singaporeans would settle for a cheaply made car like Axia? John, you need to have your brain checked

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
          • Nope, you check your brain, this is about expensive pricy car, no matter cheaply made or not.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Dedak In The House on Apr 04, 2017 at 6:41 pm

        Work in msia, msian complaint high living cost.. work in sgpore, sgporean will also say the same thing.. we complaint about expat from indon.. they complaint expat from msia.. i have met them, heard about their side of story.. go head go stern, same same one..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 1
      • Annoynamous on Apr 04, 2017 at 7:09 pm

        Marlboro at Singapore is SG15 per pack and in Malaysia, Marlboro is RM17 per pack… So , which cigarette is expensive?? Theirs or ours??

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 3
      • Albert Yong on Apr 04, 2017 at 7:47 pm

        All over Asean got no special coaches for ladies. But in Malaysia, because gotmajor pervert problem, everywhere got special coaches for ladies.

        In Malaysia, so many girls and ladies kena pancut from guys in LRT and public busses.

        So, how can this be good value? It is a big problem in Malaysia. Our females all prefer using Uber.

        So how good value is our public transport?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 21
        • U mean MY Gov respects womenfolk better than supreme SG?
          Hmm. Din know bashers do gip credit to MY Gov, huh.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 4
          • Rahman on Apr 05, 2017 at 9:24 am

            credit to MY Gov. MY womenfolk get to marry at 9.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
        • malaysian on Apr 05, 2017 at 12:41 pm

          So much insult from this guy. Butthurt much?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Sukhdev Singh on Apr 04, 2017 at 10:43 pm

        No, it may not be cheating. Here are two more figures to compare and that is the area covered (from Wikipedia). Singapore is 719.1 km squared. Wilayah Persekutuan is 243 km squared and the City Metropolitan area is 2243.27 km squared. Add it up to get 2,486.27 km squared. That is 3.46 times larger than Singapore.

        Then the length of the routes traveled, I think must be many, many times more than that of Singapore. In Singapore you might pay SGD3 but how far is there to travel? There is really nowhere to go. In Wilayah and the surroundings, the distances, I would say, are MASIVE compared to Singapore.

        Therefore, the price being paid per kilometer traveled must be very low compared to Singapore.

        And then your punch statement, “Singapore is far ahead of us,” I would, say is totally outdated. It may have been true 10 years ago, perhaps. I think that we are already ahead of Singapore.

        But I think that the point of view in your mind is actually confusing between “being ahead” with “having arrived”. Singapore, perhaps “has arrived”. We haven’t.

        And why do I think that Singapore “has arrived”. It is because they have nowhere else left to go. Sure, they can do fine tuning here and there. Singapore is good for that.

        They are not trying to compete with Malaysia or any Asean country. They are competing with the likes of London and so many other developed nations.

        But in Malaysia, we have a lot of land area, rural areas, to cover as well. So, we will “not be arriving” for a long time yet.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 4
        • Warga langat on Apr 05, 2017 at 9:39 am

          perkhidmatan Bas Smart Selangor memang memberi keselesaan dan kemudahan percuma kepada pengguna.

          Syabas Selangor bijak!!!

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 2
      • “cited a report by FT Confidential Research” – err…not gov agencies findings. Bias?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • Redidiot on Apr 05, 2017 at 4:03 pm

        Deal with it, you sour grape!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Hidan on Aug 09, 2017 at 3:28 pm

        Average salary for gomen servant in msia is Rm 1200? Where you got this information i though that gomen servant average are about rm 3000 nowadays some may go higher than Rm 5k

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • SMRT breakdown is a regular event, like trains arriving on time in jepunis.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 5
    • Best value, not best service.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 8
      • Some butt hurt people will find 1000 reason for the sake of bashing. Funny is it?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • This article is misleading in the sense that it doesn’t explain that the FT research paper also includes own transportation as part of the equation and cites that 69% of Malaysians drive which is double the average of other ASEAN countries. This doesn’t mean we have better public transport infra, it just means we have better overall infra including public and paid roads.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
    • lilytan on Apr 05, 2017 at 9:10 am

      Best value here can best be described like a fast food combo. Looks cheerful and cheap but consist of stale fries, fake meat patty and ice-laden soda

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Ahmadjr on Apr 04, 2017 at 7:18 pm

    Of course it’s cheap because there aren’t any (most places)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 6
  • Passerby on Apr 04, 2017 at 8:28 pm

    Typical cakap sendiri syok sendiri culture… Hark ptuiiii!!! if we go other country say malaysia public transport is the best also will laugh big other people mouth… hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 19
  • Bernard on Apr 04, 2017 at 8:38 pm

    Singapore transport is way way ahead and highly affordable. How is this report done?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 21
    • The reporter and FT not based in MY. Why complain here?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
    • malaysian on Apr 05, 2017 at 12:42 pm

      so everything that lift up malaysia is biased and can be questioned ah?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
      • Redidiot on Apr 05, 2017 at 4:10 pm

        These bashers are just like western feminists- their all idealogues- beholden to rigid dogma that cannot fathom and digest facts that point to the contrary.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
  • Sgt Scoop on Apr 04, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    I spend 0% of my income on public transport. The LRT is great but it doesn’t go anywhere near my house or office. The new MRT lines are great but again, they don’t go anywhere near my house or office.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 8
  • Alex (Member) on Apr 04, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    I am really surprised.
    1. Integration
    KL city trains although has come a long and painful way for single ticketting system, the pricing is still piont to point base. One you change line, the cost counter rest to a minimum pay of that line. For example you bough a ticket from klcc to plaza rakyat… the fare is actually klcc-masjib jamek+ masjid jameh plaza rakyat. The fare schedule reset itself at masjid jamek.

    Compare to Singapore, even though operated by 2 different operators, the costing of each ride is purely start-end point based. Meaning after u change line, the increment could be as little as 0.21SGD equivalent of additional km from initial station. boonlay to habour front for exapmple does not cost more than boonlay to tanjong pagar.

    2. No integration with bus.
    Bus and trains are totally segregated entities of public transport in KL. you pay bus for bus, train for train.

    In sg, in addition to ability to change train, bus routes fare is also included as part of the start-end point pricing. You can be staying at some housing area in jurong west, take bus to boon lay, take train to outram park,take anothe train to punggol, and take another bus to visit some relative and the pulic transport will charge you from your house to ur relative house as one line one fare, max out at <3SGD. try to do the same in KL and you'll have a shock how expensive it is!

    3. Yes, 'we' have LRT, MRT, Monorail, RapidKL, BRT, KTM… but 'we' refer to kv folks. sorry for ppl living outside kv… apparently some studies think we aren't malaysian.

    So yeah… the study is as fake as kim kardashian's butt but there will always be kanye wests out there.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 5
    • Highest impact (or u rather prefer: value for money) with public transport is still at KV. Once all is setup, then the money recouped can spend on other cities.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • The description “FT confidential research” already red flag on the result of this survey…What a joke when they describe it as: (“Indeed, Malaysians spend less as a proportion of their income than ASEAN rivals when it comes to transport,”)..
    So shiok sendiri they only compare to those ASEAN countries which have started so much later in their infrastructure development than Malaysia…But are fast catching up to us here! We are losing the lead (given we were leading by over 20 years compared to some of our ASEAN neighbors)…What a bunch of clowns we have as leaders here!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 9
  • David CL Chua on Apr 04, 2017 at 11:28 pm

    In my opinion, the pricing of any transportation – either by LRT or by train or by bus etc – for Malaysians should be established by Malaysian Transport Authority in accordance with the economic standard of Malaysian people in the country, than to compare with other country. Good services- punctuality, convenience and comfort – are also important to travelers.

    I have observed that good transportation – LRT, Mon-rail
    etc-is only provided to major cities and towns in Malaysia.

    Movements of the people by MRT transportation, from places to places, not only make Malaysians healthy by visiting places for their activities, but also make the roads less congested with cars. It is, therefore, high time that the Malaysian Authorities should plan MRT transportation for the people living in the Johore inland towns – say MRT commencing from the route in Johore Bahru to Kota Tinggi up to Mersing, passing many small towns along the route.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • I hope so bro.

      I think the reason that overall public transport system in Malaysia is due to corrupted gomen.

      Maybe gomen’s mind set is:
      bad public transport system
      = more people buy(own) car (more tax to collect)
      = more people pump fuel (earn money again)
      = more people pay toll fee ($$$ again)

      What a greedy mindset…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • krishna on Apr 05, 2017 at 8:19 am

    Whenever a stats is issued which ranks Malaysia favourably, I am always doubtful. For starters, dollar for dollar (without conversion), income levels in Sg is the same in Malaysia. I pay maximum SGD2 for a train ride for the longest distance. In KL, I pay RM2 just to travel across 5 stations! The number of break downs in Sg is far less than Malaysia. And it is open secret that project costs in Malaysia is often non-transparent and heavily bloated. Looking at all these, I really doubt the score. Nah…not convinced. You will see more of these stats coming out now that election is around the corner.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 10
    • I doubt u actually stay in SG. Here the SMRT breakdowns r becoming more frequent that it no longer appear in the news like b4. Deswai MY pipu dun “see” it happen and assume its better than ur LRT/MRT. Its not. Its dying a slow death.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
      • Krishna on Apr 05, 2017 at 5:14 pm

        I have been staying in SG for 6 years now. Born and bred in KL, used Putra, Star, KTM you name it, I have travelled it. Yes, SMRT breakdowns is more frequent but still no where close to the number of breakdowns in KL

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 4
  • skeptic on Apr 05, 2017 at 8:36 am

    why do ppl even bother to read research paper anymore?
    this is just more proof that data/results can be skewed in whichever way you want to present it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
    • So you prefer to be a brainless basher by not read research paper?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
      • nexto on Apr 05, 2017 at 1:31 pm

        Somebody told here he enjoice reading hearsay in this comment section.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Then u rather prefer reading only doom and gloom papers on MY yeah? Puh-lezzz!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Ben Yap on Apr 05, 2017 at 11:10 am

    we must achieve best value in every sector. not only public transportation.

    we must have the best value:
    1) cars
    2) Salaries
    3) Housing
    4) Medical
    5) Education

    that’s a first world country.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • Blanko on Jul 21, 2017 at 12:11 pm

      healthcare in malaysia is considered one of the best in the World

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Noah Thiruchelvan on Apr 05, 2017 at 11:22 am

    Come on la, these are just lies. ask anyone who takes the KTM or buses. ADONBILIVIT

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • Value for public transport ? Cheap yes i agree. Value? How can KTM Komuter can score well here ? This is the most shitty train in SEA i believe. Long waiting time and frequent break down

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
    • youmoron on Apr 05, 2017 at 11:31 pm

      Of course anything that lifts up bolehland is fake, for morons.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Ariff on Apr 06, 2017 at 1:19 am

    Value without the efficiency is useless I’m afraid.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Wong yee Huei on Apr 07, 2017 at 7:51 am

    I am glad malaysia is the best in Asean. love this country.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Darma on Aug 13, 2017 at 4:22 pm

    Haha.. I have been hearing about this Sg better thing for more than 20 years ago. Maybe yes maybe no but for me normally I prefer to read outsiders comments. Majority of foreigners will blog/vlog that we are a blessed country and they like it here. One expat blogs that one good thing about Malaysians is that we treat every individual as people and he is grateful that his kids can be brought up here. Not agreeable? Read more or spend time living overseas, not just in Sg. I did for a year somewhere in a developed country and I use thier public transport extensively with my wife and kids. Yes we are not far off in terms of public transport. What we lag behind is mentality.

    All countries have good and bad side of the tale and Sg is not excluded. Trumpland and Bolehland too. For one, the suicide rate in Sg is pretty impressive so I read. So much for being a good place to be brought up. But of course they are great too. So are all of us.

    We can argue till infinity but foreigners are slowly taking over. Kota Raya is no longer Malaysian. Bukit Bintang has turned middle eastern. Pretty soon PRC will also dominate. Wonder why KLIA Airport is among the busiest in the world? We can all one day lick asses of our next door foreign neighbours. Or we can fight like gladiators in the ring since we like to argue and fight among ourselves so much. They will watch and make bets. The race mix in Bolehland is of high percentage. Any ‘fights’ will mean extensive destruction.

    Hey, the grass is always greener on the other side. Live with it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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