Would You Rely On The MRT To Get To Work?

Image Source: The Malay Mail Online

The auspicious 17 July 2026 (17/07/17) marks the launch of phase 2 of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SKB) monorail line, which will serve the southwest and northeast of the Greater KL. The trains will be in full service beginning 6:00am tomorrow, connecting commuters from “Kajang, Damansara, Sungai Buloh, TTDI, and Bandar Utama” directly to central business areas within KL.

The new SKB line and various other MRT and public transport projects have been hailed as a ‘game-changer’ which aims to provide an easier and more affordable means to travel - for work or for pleasure. The MRT operates from 6:00am to 12:00am on weekdays and closes at 11:00pm on weekends. Fees run from at least RM 1.00 from one station to the next to RM6.40 from the start of the line to the end (Sungai Buloh to Kajang). Using the cashless payment option will give you a slightly lower fee. So if you’re a regular commuter from, for example, Bandar Utama to the Bukit Bintang area (RM 3.40 one-way), you’re looking at about RM 136 per month for to-and-fro journeys for a 20-workday month.

If you want to give the new lines a go, you're in luck - rides on the SBK MRT route are free today, and all rides on the MRT, LRT, and Monorail are 50% off from now until Merdeka (31 August 2026).

However, many commuters remain skeptical of the cost and convenience of using the Malaysian public transport to get to and from work.

Workers are vary of relying on the trains because:

1. Lack of Confidence In Reliability

Image Source: Motion Digest

Many commuters have negative impressions of the punctuality, frequency, and reliability of Malaysia’s public transport system. You’d probably have heard of - or lived through - horror stories about being stuck for 3-hours in a KTM train (for no apparent reason) and being terribly late to work because of delays. Just last September, travellers who - ironically - decided to use the public transport to get to work because of heavy rains discovered that the LRT lines - one of the more reliable train services in the area - were non-functional. Many irate workers only managed to reach their offices by as late as 1:00pm.

Because these service disruptions are relatively unpredictable but highly disruptive to the workers’ daily routine, many feel that the trains are just not a reliable means of travel to work preferring instead to stick to their traffic-jam-filled, 2-hour drives.

2. Lack of Accessibility

Image Source: Skyscraper City

The new train lines are meant to increase transport connectivity and accessibility especially for those who do not own personal vehicles. Ironically, many feel that the stations themselves are not very accessible.

Most stations are located in commercial areas which, many point out, you have to drive to get to. Feeder busses and shuttle services are provided for most areas, but many find the coverage and efficiency of these busses lacking. The pedestrian routes for these stations are also notoriously unwalkable because of poor design that - among other things - are confusing, offers no shade from the sun or rain and are uneven and badly-maintained.

With all the hassle of actually getting to the station, many opt to travel to work in the comfort of their cars.

3. The Relatively Expensive Fares

Image Source: Hotels.com

Public transport usually serves as a cheaper alternative to owning a personal vehicle, as paying for a one-off fare only for the journey you take seems more cost-effective. In general, the price of maintaining the vehicle, fuel, toll and parking charges which can cost at least RM 300 a month.

However, considering that a personal vehicle is used for other reasons besides day-to-day work travel, some view that paying just for single journeys is not worth it. Compounding the cost to the lack of reliability and accessibility, many workers would still prefer their own cars as the main means of transport to and from work.

The MRT expansion projects are perhaps a move in the right direction to improve the nation’s infrastructure, economy, and standard of living. According to MRT chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar, the initiative will also boost the nation’s economy, create new jobs, encourage economic and business activities, and increase property values in the area. Our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has even higher hopes for the new train lines, claiming that they are rated "better than London, New York, or Hong Kong. And on par with Singapore", if not the most modern.

While it’ll probably take a while for our public transport system to reach the level of efficiency - and inspire as much confidence - as developed nations like Singapore and Japan, perhaps it’s worth it to remain optimistic and give it a go.

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Information Source: The Malay Mail Online, MyRapid.com, The New Straits Times, The Sun Daily

Image Source: Hotels.com, The Malay Mail Online, Motion Digest, Skyscraper City