The Ultimate Guide To Public Transportation In Malaysia

Ninja Whale
Dec 21, 2024
9 min read

Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Exploring Malaysia is rather simple as long as you know the public transportation options in Malaysia. Public transportation in Malaysia is reliable and the cheapest way to travel. There are several options to choose from, but the main mode of transportation in Malaysia is by land; either by train, bus, or car

Peninsular Malaysia is much easier to navigate as you have more options than Borneo's East Malaysia

Public Transportation Options In Malaysia

Transport	Type	Average Fare Per Ride
MyRapid Bus (available in Kuala Lumpur, Penang Island & Kuantan)	Public Transportation - Bus	RM1 (NZ$ 0.40)
MRT - Mass Rapid Transit (throughout urban & suburban areas of Kuala Lumpur)	Public Transportation - Train	RM4 (NZ$ 1.53)
LRT - Light Rail Transit (only in Kuala Lumpur)	Public Transportation - Train	RM4 (NZ$ 1.53)
KTM Komuter (throughout Peninsular Malaysia)	Public Transportation - Train	RM3 (NZ$ 1.15)
KL Monorail (only in Kuala Lumpur)	Public Transportation - Train	RM 2.50 (NZ$ 0.96)
Grab Car (throughout Peninsular Malaysia)	Private E-Hailing Service	RM12 (NZ$ 4.60)

Best Way To Get Around Kuala Lumpur

Personally, MRT is my preferred mode of public transportation; it is efficient and reliable. It runs throughout the city and is the easiest way to get to the main attraction spots in or around Kuala Lumpur. Most importantly, it bypasses all the city traffic

If your main concern is the cost of traveling, taking a bus is the cheapest way to travel from one location to another, however, if you're in a hurry it would be better if you take a taxi or Grab car

How To Use Public Transport In Kuala Lumpur?

Single-ride tickets for buses and trains can be purchased at the ticket machines or the ticket counter when you get to the station. You will need the ticket as you enter and exit the train.

However, it is not advisable during rush hour, as the queue may be quite long and very time-consuming. The hassle of having to have exact change for your ticket when using the ticket machine is the main reason locals opt to go cashless with a Touch 'N Go card.

Touch 'n Go Card (TnG) - A Must-Have When Visiting Peninsular Malaysia

A Touch 'n Go card is quite similar to a Bee Card (New Zealand) or MyKi card (Australia). It is a prepaid smartcard that costs RM20 (RM10 for the card and RM10 stored credit).

Touch 'N Go cards can be bought at the airport, most train stations, convenience stores and petrol stations. You can top up your TnG card with credit at almost any convenience store, petrol station, or retail store.

You will need to pre-load the card with credit that will be deducted as and when you tap the TnG card reader; as you get in and out of trains and buses for a discounted price.

If you plan on renting a car in KL and driving yourself around, it is good to know that TnG cards are also used to pay highway tolls and parking sites in Peninsular Malaysia. You will not be able to pay with cash at the highway toll booth, whereas a shopping mall parking would still accept cash payment.

However you choose to travel, buying a Touch 'N Go Card is highly recommended.

KL Sentral Station

Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, KL Sentral station serves as the main transportation hub for Kuala Lumpur's integrated rail transportation, which seamlessly links all suburban and urban areas; with direct access to tourist spots such as Petaling Street, Central Market, KLCC and many more

Many intercity trains and buses depart from KL Sentral Station - for example, trains to Penang Island or Singapore.

If you arrive at KLIA airport and choose not to spend a ton of money on taxis or Grab, you can very easily hop on the KLIA Express train that will take you straight to KL Sentral in 28 minutes

It would make things so much easier if you picked an accommodation that is a train or bus ride away from KL Sentral. It makes a huge difference if you're planning to be out and about in the city every day; otherwise, you're spending too much time traveling to and from your accommodation

Klang Valley Integrated Transit Map

The merging between KTM Komuter, LRT and MRT makes traveling within and outside the city convenient and accessible.

Klang Valley has a total of 12 train lines that run through the city centre, making it easy for travellers to switch trains at interchange stations or connecting stations.

At first, it can be pretty overwhelming, even for locals, but if you need help mapping out a route, feel free to ask a fellow staff to assist with it and you'll be on your way in no time!

MyRapid Bus

MyRapid buses are available in a few states in Peninsular Malaysia; there is Rapid KL, Rapid Kuantan and Rapid Penang.

Generally, locals find it is quite reliable and convenient, however, sometimes if traffic in the city centre is heavy or at a standstill the bus timing can be erratic. You might want to avoid taking the bus altogether if you're in a time crunch

To plan your journey with ease, download the MyRapid PULSE Mobile app. It'll help when you're planning your trip - map the route, check the fare and track the bus.

Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

MRT is the newest addition to the Malaysian Rail Transportation system and is fairly popular amongst locals and tourists. It covers key areas of the suburbs and city centre, bridging the gap in public transportation.

The MRT is on-time 98% of the time and the trains are scheduled pretty frequently, especially during peak hours. Unlike other public transportation in KL, the MRT operating hours are slightly longer - the first train at 5.30am and the last train at 12.30am.

With MRT, tourists and locals are now able to access popular tourist attractions and shopping malls directly - Bukit Bintang and Pavilion has its own MRT station

Light Rail Transit (LRT)

The LRT line is an alternative that covers fewer areas than the MRT. The stations are mostly situated in areas that are edging around the city.

From whichever LRT station you arrive at, you're most probably going to need to walk quite a bit or take a taxi to get to your destination. It serves as a good halfway point to get to your destination.

You can either buy a single-ride ticket at the station or if you have a Touch 'n Go card, tap as you enter and exit.

KTM Komuter

The Komuter is the first electric train service in Malaysia. It was crucial for locals to commute from suburban areas to Kuala Lumpur's city centre for work.

The Komuter runs further out in the Suburbs compared to any other train line and is cheaper than other trains. These days, it's mostly used by locals to commute to work and back and not really the best option for tourists. Unless you want to travel out of city and explore the suburbs.

You can either buy a single-ride ticket at the station or if you have a Touch 'n Go card, tap as you enter and exit.

KL Monorail

The Monorail is an intra-city train line that runs in the 'Golden Triangle' of Kuala Lumpur. The Monorail route runs through commercial and tourist areas within the city.

It doesn't help you get into the city centre. It is an option when you want to move from one location to another within the city centre.

Similar to all other railway services, you can either buy a single-ride ticket or tap your TnG card as you enter and exit the train.

Private E-Hailing Service - Is There Uber In Malaysia?

Taking taxis in Malaysia is not advisable as it is known that many taxi drivers refuse to charge meter rates, instead, tricking individuals into paying a ridiculously exorbitant amount to get from point A to B. Additionally, taxis are to be paid in cash.

Because of that, locals opt to use Grab Car - a private e-hailing service.

Similar to Uber, you'd have to download the Grab app, then pinpoint your location and choose where you would like to go. It will then show you how much the ride would cost and the type of ride, and Grab will assign the nearest driver to you. This way you can pay for your rides via online card payment.

Download and book a ride in a few clicks with the Grab Ride app - a reliable taxi service

GO KL City Bus

As a traveller, this would be your best option to explore Kuala Lumpur. This is a fully airconditioned free bus service with Wi-Fi that covers major tourist attractions spots in KL - Petaling Street, KL City Walk, Bukit Bintang, KLCC and many more

Hop on any GO KL city bus that has 'Green Line' or 'Purple Line' written on it, as that will be the route that takes you around to tourist spots

Download the Moovit mobile app for a real-time bus tracker and the bus schedule

Public Transport in Kuala Lumpur - Travel Hack

If you're on a strict budget but would like to wander about Kuala Lumpur without worrying about transportation costs - this is for you.

Rapid KL has a MyCity Pass; you can choose between a one-day, two-day or three-day pass.

This pass offers unlimited rides for all RapidKL services in Klang Valley - MRT, LRT, Monorail, MRT Feeder bus, Rapid KL bus and BRT

How To Purchase MyCity Pass?

You will need a Touch 'n Go card with a minimum balance of RM6 to encode the MyCity Pass.
You can either purchase the pass online or at the RapidKL Customer Service Office at the station.
If you purchased the MyCity Pass online, you will need to redeem and validate it at a RapidKL Customer Service Office before using the card, as the pass would need to be activated beforehand.

For more information on the MyCity Pass or to purchase your pass online, feel free to check out the RapidKL website

How To Travel Across The Country In Peninsular Malaysia?

By Bus

For long-distance travel from Kuala Lumpur, taking a bus would be your best bet, especially if you're on a budget. Over a hundred bus companies are operating daily commutes to whichever destination. You'll be able to choose between the bus operators based on the place of departure, route, timetable and fare.

My go-to bus companies that are reputable and punctual are:-

Transnasional
Plusliner

You're able to take a bus to practically anywhere in Malaysia - to Cameron Highlands, Kuantan, Terrenganu (Perhentian Island), Genting Highlands and many more.

A one-way bus ticket will cost you around NZ$20 depending on your destination and bus operator. Avoid the hassle of buying your tickets at the counter and book your bus tickets online at 12Go.Asia - you'll be able to choose your bus operator and most importantly, compare prices.

An important thing to note is that traffic in Malaysia can be unpredictable, especially if an accident occurs on the highway, it can set you back by at least 4 hours.

By Flight

If you want to see all of Peninsular Malaysia in a week, you might want to skip traveling by road due to the uncertainty of the traffic situation and opt for a flight instead.

Domestic flights within Peninsular Malaysia are cheaper than flights over to Sabah and Sarawak. After years and years of going through the same headache of standstill traffic on the highways, locals have opted to fly from Penang to Kuala Lumpur as it saves A LOT of time and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

You can choose between a few low-cost airlines;- Airasia, Malindo Air or FireFly.

AirAsia is the most popular choice amongst locals, however, sometimes when there's an ongoing promotion for Firefly or Malindo Air. The prices tend to be significantly cheaper.

That being said, when you're booking your flight, it'll be worth comparing prices for all three airlines.

Rent A Car

If you plan on driving in Malaysia, all tourists must apply for an International Driving Permit beforehand.

Make sure your driver's license is valid for at least one year. For further information on getting a driving permit in Malaysia - click here

Having your own mode of transportation is a game changer when it comes to exploring Peninsular Malaysia. First, you'd have the flexibility of time - make however many stops or detours along the way.

For example, if you're traveling to Penang, you can stop in Ipoh for lunch and possibly squeeze in a short visit to a temple or two.

It is ideal if you want to experience Malaysia like a local - drive to a tiny stall in the middle of nowhere for a delicious bowl of curry mee

Malaysia is a country that drives on the left side of the road - the same as New Zealand!