A congestion charge is a fee that drivers need to pay to enter a city.

Zaliha said the initiative is being considered under the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Master Plan 2040 to ease peak-hour gridlock.

“The congestion charge is one of the strategies being considered to manage traffic. We are carefully studying how it will impact road users and the public transport system,” she told the Dewan Rakyat.

She said the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research and Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation are conducting a feasibility study to see whether congestion charges are effective in reducing traffic and improving public transport usage.

“The findings of this study will be presented to the Cabinet before any final decision is made.”

She said that traffic congestion is costing the economy RM20 billion yearly and that improving the public transport system is key to solving the congestion issue.

“We must create a complete ecosystem for public transport. If we don’t, people will continue to rely on private cars.

“The goal is not to burden people but to make Kuala Lumpur a smoother, more efficient city for everyone.” she added.