Transport
From The Report: Malaysia 2012
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Having already developed a comprehensive transportation and logistics network across key economic regions, Malaysia is focused on improving access to rural areas and decreasing congestion in cities. The government’s biggest project is the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit system, which kicked off construction in 2012 on the first line, with two more to come by 2018. Other plans in the works include the extension of KL’s Light Rail Transit and a potential high-speed rail link to Singapore. New highways are also being planned in both Peninsular and Eastern Malaysia, with the latter aimed at improving logistics and facilitating access to the hinterlands. Finally, Kuala Lumpur International Airport is set for a massive new low-cost carrier terminal, which will feed the expansionary appetite of Air Asia and Malaysia’s other budget operators.
This chapter includes interviews with Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar, Chairman, Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD); and Bashir Ahmad, Managing Director, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Picking up speed: The government is working to shore up the country’s reputation as a transport hub
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Over the past few decades, Malaysia has built one of the highest-quality and farthest-reaching transport networks in South-east Asia. The national transport network, which includes extensive road, rail, air and sea links, has underpinned the country’s economic development over the past decade, playing a vital supporting role in numerous industries. Now, the government is in the process of expanding and improving the network further, with the long-term goal of boosting Malaysia’s reputation…

Interview

OBG talks to Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar, Chairman, Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD)
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Interview: Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar How can public transport ridership be improved in Malaysia’s primary metropolis, Kuala Lumpur? SYED HAMID SYED JAAFAR ALBAR: Currently, the statistics indicate that 17% of the population in Kuala Lumpur use public transportation. Our target is to achieve 25% utilisation by the end of 2015. To this end, various investments and initiatives are being made on the supply side. Beyond this, we need to ensure they serve the population and are attractive for commuters.…

Interview

OBG talks to Bashir Ahmad, Managing Director, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB)
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Interview: Bashir Ahmad What factors do you expect to drive growth for Malaysia’s aviation sector going forward? BASHIR AHMED: The high-population catchment area in which MAHB’s five international airports are located includes four of the strongest global growth markets: China, India, Thailand and Indonesia. MAHB also owns a huge land bank and is focused on creating and adding value to our airport land through real estate development and commercial activities that will ultimately provide sustainable,…

Analysis

Flying high: The aviation industry is poised for continued expansion
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It is hard to overestimate the positive impact air transport has had on the country’s economic development over the past decade. The sector has played a vital role in the rapid expansion of trade and the thriving tourism industry, for starters. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the nation’s primary international facility, has become one of the busiest hubs in South-east Asia. In 2011 the airport welcomed more than 37m passengers, up by around 3m from the previous year. Malaysia Airlines…

Analysis

Focus on safety: New initiatives are aimed at reducing the number of traffic accidents
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In an effort to reduce accident and fatality rates on Malaysia’s roads, the government is working to implement a series of new safety standards. The new policies, the majority of which are based on international safety standards developed by the UN and other regional and international entities, are expected to have a major positive impact on the road segment. Traffic accidents account for around 1.3m deaths globally on an annual basis, or around 3500 per day, making them one of the leading…

Analysis

Moving forward: The freight and logistics segments have experienced rapid expansion
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The logistics segment has seen substantial growth in recent years, due primarily to various government development programmes, strong external trade growth and a steady stream of foreign investments. The industry is expected to grow to RM129.93bn ($41.9bn) by the end of 2012, up 10.3% on the previous year, according to statistics from Frost and Sullivan, an international research and consulting firm. This forecast is closely linked to ongoing expansion in most major Asian markets, and especially…