Transportation

Transportation

Serviced by well-developed and affordable transport networks, public transportation is efficient and convenient for students in Malaysia. Costing as low as USD 1 per ride, two modes for commuting are available – mass transport or private ride-hailing services.

City Travel

Getting around the city as a public commuter in Malaysia is relatively easy: you can take advantage of the city’s vast and efficient public transportation system to get the best out of the city’s offerings.

Bus

As a student, stretching that dollar means utilising public transport like metro trains and buses over pricier taxis. Public buses can take you to almost anywhere in Malaysia in comfort.

In addition, most Malaysian universities also charter their own buses for international students to visit hotspots throughout the city – we highly recommend that you hop on. Do take advantage of the Go KL City Bus, a bus service plying Kuala Lumpur’s downtown hotspots, completely free of charge.

Metro

Using the metro is another very popular mode of transportation in Malaysia’s capital – Kuala Lumpur. RapidKL and KTM Komuter connect Kuala Lumpur with all major suburbs and states respectively. Within Kuala Lumpur itself, the KL Monorail runs through the city centre. Interchanges between lines are available and connecting buses between stations also allow you to travel throughout the whole city effortlessly.

KL Sentral is a modern transportation hub serving many trains – KTM Komuter, LRT, MRT, KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit – as well as local buses including those to Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

If you require any assistance or want some tips for certain areas, simply head over to the service counter at any station and get a free map of the city. You can even download and print your very own metro map here.

Buy your tickets at the counter or vending machines – they accept coins and notes, although it is highly advisable to use rechargeable cards primarily for your convenience. The Komuter Link is a rechargeable card used for the main rail lines while the MyRapid Touch ‘n Go card is used for the Light Rail Transit (LRT), Mass Rail Transit (MRT) and Monorail.

Private Rides

The most convenient (but often also the most expensive) way to travel within Kuala Lumpur is by taxi or private ride like Grab. Taxis are readily available and you can choose to directly negotiate the price or get a metered cab. Should you take a taxi late at night, consider booking via an app for your peace of mind.

Comfort Cabs: +60-3-62531313
Sunlight Taxi: +60-3-90575757
Public Cab: +603 62592020
Uptown Ace: +603 92832333
Unicablink: 1300 88 0303 (local number)

Kuala Lumpur’s Main Airports

Malaysia’s main international airports are located in Klang Valley – Kuala Lumpur International Airport – divided into KLIA and KLIA2 terminals – near the administrative capital city of Putrajaya, and Subang Skypark, Kuala Lumpur’s own city airport. Both airports service domestic and international flights and are easily accessible by buses, trains and taxis. Most domestic and regional flights are routed to KLIA2 and Subang Skypark (also known as Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport) and they come at very low prices. Do explore when you can!

Trains to KLIA

KLIA Express and KLIA Transit are frequent and efficient services between the KLIA-KLIA2 and the KL City Air Terminal (KL CAT) at KL Sentral. KLIA Ekspres travels non-stop and takes only 28 minutes, while KLIA Transit takes around 36 minutes and stops at 3 additional stations in between. Free service operates between KLIA and KLIA2 terminals.

Buses to KLIA

Coaches operating between KL Sentral and the airports very frequently. Free shuttle service is also provided between KLIA1, KLIA2 and the Long-Term Car Park every 10 minutes, which lasts throughout the day. Busses from KLIA to cities in neighbouring states operate 24 hours everyday.

Taxis to KLIA

Metered taxis and ride-hailing services like Grab and MyCar ply the routes to and from the city. From the airport, you can grab a service at the arrival hall just after luggage collection.

Inter-City Travel

Air Travel

From Kuala Lumpur’s main airports, you can travel to other Malaysian destinations quite easily by air. You can also go to the region’s main cities, for example in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and the Philippines from smaller airports like Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Penang.

Bus

If you are looking for an adventure during your holiday, MyRapid KL buses are available for inter-city and inter-state travels. Coach services to other cities and neighbouring countries like Thailand and Singapore, as well as Brunei and Indonesia are also abundant. The heart for coach transportation in West Malaysia –Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, is an integrated land transport hub in Kuala Lumpur’s south that will connect you to all major destinations, including to the airports. Various cities/states like Kuching, Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah also provide similar connectivity in East Malaysia, from which you can travel to other parts of Borneo.

Train

If you prefer to avoid the road, catch a ride aboard one of the KTM trains for fuss-free travels. Train lovers on a very long holiday also have the option to travel by train to Beijing, China for interchange to the Trans-Siberian route all the way to Europe!

KL Sentral, the heart of Kuala Lumpur, is the best place to find a connecting mode of transport. Whatever your preferences are, plan your journey in advance and learn more about the available routes servicing your city.

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Sarah Azreen Abdul Samat

Sarah has over 22 years of experience in corporate finance transactions involving equity issuance, mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, corporate restructuring, and corporate valuation, amongst others. She began her career in investment banking with Malaysian International Merchant Bankers Berhad in 2001 after obtaining her professional qualifications from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Later in her career, she joined other investment banking institutions in Malaysia such as AmInvestment Bank Berhad, Maybank Investment Bank Berhad and RHB Investment Bank Berhad.

Presently, Sarah sits as Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of Reneuco Berhad and Independent Director of Pharmaniaga Berhad. She is currently the Executive Director of 3p Capital Advisers Sdn. Bhd., a company licensed with the Securities Commission Malaysia to provide advisory services to the capital market players.

Tuan Haji Ismail Bin Mohamed

Tuan Haji Ismail Mohamed sits on the Board of Director for Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). He obtains his Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Prior to sitting on the EMGS Board, he was also appointed to be the Board of Director to KEJORA from 2013 to 2018, and several companies such as Permodalan Darul Takzim Sdn Bhd, Perbadanan Usahawan Johor Sdn Bhd, PIJ Holding and Ranhil SAJ Sdn Bhd. Tuan Haji Ismail Mohamed also co-founded Pertama.

He started his career by setting up a company and being the founder of JYBB Enterprise. His career came to prominence when he became the co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Pertama Polyerethane Technology (M) Sdn Bhd and subsequently became the Special Officer to the Minister of Education in 2013.

Ismail Mohamed is acknowledged for his expertise in Agriculture and Agro-based industry, landing him being appointed as the Chairman of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee of the Johor State, the Chairman of Agro KEJORA and the Chairman of the Johor State Agriculture, Agro-based industry, Entrepreneurial Development and Cooperatives Committee.