KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysians are increasingly expressing disappointment with the country’s public transportation system, including the Light Rail Transit (LRT), Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) services.
This growing frustration stems largely from frequent service disruptions affecting both the LRT and MRT lines in recent times, particularly during peak commuting hours in the morning and evening.
These breakdowns and delays have significantly impacted daily commuters, especially working adults who rely heavily on these services to travel to and from work.
According to fellow commuter Mohd Faisal Rosli, 48, the repeated disruptions have become a persistent nuisance for daily passengers.
“It affects your time efficiency and forces you to rush to work,” said the passenger, who has relied on public transportation for the past 10 years to commute from Petaling Jaya to Kuala Lumpur.
He added that such disruptions should be prevented, especially given the number of people who depend on these services every day.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Veni, a teacher at Campus Rangers International School.
She described the delays as disruptive, saying they often cause commuters to arrive late at their workplaces.
Meanwhile, Thayllen, who has been using public transportation since childhood, described the situation as stressful.
“The fact that we have to wait so long and then end up getting caught in traffic makes it even more frustrating,” he said when speaking to Scoop.
The 31-year-old commuter, who travels from Semenyih to Brickfields, also highlighted issues with KTM, stating that of all the modes of transport, KTM requires the most improvement.
“It is so inconvenient because we rely on KTM, as certain areas are only covered by KTM,” he said.
“To depend on one train, and for that train to provide the slowest service, is quite sad,” he added.
Frustration over the disruptions was not limited to daily commuters but was also shared by occasional users of the public transportation system.
Nurin Maisara Muhammad Nasir, a student from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), said such disruptions were especially concerning during Ramadan.
“And now that it’s the fasting month, the disruptions make things even more difficult, especially for Muslims who are trying to get home in time to break their fast,” she said, adding that such disruptions should be communicated earlier for the convenience of passengers.
Despite their frustrations, commuters generally agreed that Malaysia’s public transport system remains reliable, although improvements are needed.
“In my opinion, there are not many things to be improved, but there are some areas they must work on,” said Siti Aisyah Hassan.
Yesterday , the Kelana Jaya Line experienced disruptions, causing long waiting times and delays for many commuters.
Although the issue was rectified and alternative trains were provided, the incident highlights ongoing problems that require immediate attention.
The matter was also addressed by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who said the public had the right to demand a more efficient and reliable level of service in a statement shared on his Facebook page.
“I have instructed the CEO of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad to provide an explanation at the post-Cabinet meeting, along with an immediate recovery action plan.
“I will also direct the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to investigate these incidents and take action against Prasarana if it is proven that there were unreasonable operational shortcomings,” he added.
— February 25, 2026