Budget boost ‘no silver bullet’ for railway problems, says expert

The Malaysian government has allocated RM3.4 billion in its 2027 budget for railway modernisation efforts. Rahman Hussin, executive director of transportation consultancy MY Mobility Vision, warned that this funding alone will not guarantee success. He stressed that strong execution and preventative maintenance are crucial to delivering tangible results. Simply acquiring new trains and upgrading infrastructure does not automatically resolve reliability issues; proper implementation is key to achieving the desired outcomes.

The budget allocation funds Prasarana Malaysia Bhd's railway overhaul and the procurement of 42 new train sets for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB). Rahman highlighted that KTMB requires adequate track capacity, signaling systems, and maintenance facilities to support the new train sets effectively. The Klang Valley's double track project serves as a prime example of the critical role track infrastructure plays alongside fleet expansion.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized the need for immediate action to address service breakdowns during the presentation of the 2027 budget estimates. He pledged to continue the My50 travel pass for 300,000 Prasarana users in the Klang Valley and introduced MyKomuter50 for 40,000 KTM Komuter users, offering average monthly savings of up to RM160. Rahman acknowledged that these passes can help reduce household transport expenses and encourage more people to utilize public transport.

Ahmad Farhan Sadullah, a fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, viewed the investment in Prasarana and KTMB as a long-awaited shift away from reactive habits. However, he urged Putrajaya to provide clear technical guidance on how Prasarana plans to execute its asset recovery. Rahman stressed the importance of optimizing the new fleet to maximize user satisfaction while delivering satisfactory service levels.

Detailed rail service overhauls, including upgrades, repairs, and overhauls of outdated systems on the Kelana Jaya, Ampang, and Monorail lines, are essential for a comprehensive improvement plan.