Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said small-scale initiatives that encourage public transport use could be transformative for commuters.
“I’d like to see the budget’s focus shift from big, shiny projects to small things that can change daily life — simple investments like continuous shaded walkways, safer crossings, and reliable first- and last-mile connections,” the founder of transport think tank My Mobility Vision told FMT.
“New residential areas and malls shouldn’t be approved unless they’re connected to public transport. You shouldn’t need a car just to buy groceries or get to work.”
Wan Agyl said poor access to public transportation have forced many Malaysians to fork out more money than necessary on daily commuting.
He called for the budget to invest in providing citizens with more affordable and reliable transport options, such as buses and on-demand service vans, including for smaller cities beyond the Klang Valley.
The former Land Public Transport Commission official also described road safety as a “national crisis”, citing research that shows one motorcyclist dies every two hours on Malaysian roads.
“The real wow factor isn’t in another mega-highway or flashy project. It would be in a budget that promises that every Malaysian can walk safely to a bus stop or cycle to school without fear.
“Imagine announcing that within five years, every urban resident will live within 500m of safe, shaded access to public transport. That’s bold, visionary, and will change lives,” said Wan Agyl.
‘Rail, not roads’
Meanwhile, transport consultant Rosli Khan called on Putrajaya to boost rail transport instead of roads, especially with the long-awaited East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) expected to commence operations in January 2027.
He said a fair amount of funds should be channelled towards expanding rail infrastructure, including port linkages to ease and encourage cargo movement via rail instead of roads.
“Our roads are already over-invested, yet the public continues to suffer: congestion remains unresolved, accident rates are unacceptably high, and the sheer volume of heavy lorries causes both fatal crashes and costly road damage.”
Rosli, with over 30 years of experience in the sector, said one obvious lack was the absence of a dedicated rail bypass to and from Port Klang.
He said all cargo trains are currently required to pass through KL Sentral which has led to a bottleneck in freight movement, especially since they are only allowed to use the KL Sentral route from 12am to 6am.
“This six-hour window is grossly inadequate, crippling Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd’s capacity and forcing the bulk of freight onto highways instead.
“A rail bypass line to Port Klang, both from the north and from the south, is therefore urgent and essential, not just for the rail sector, but for the wider economy and the country’s long-term competitiveness.”
Rosli added that shifting more passengers and cargo from the roads to railways could help reduce fatal crashes on the road and alleviate traffic congestion while boosting the logistics sector.
He also said Putrajaya should allocate sufficient funds for comprehensive studies on how to integrate passenger and cargo rail services — to reduce duplication and maximise efficiency.
“A true ‘wow factor’ would not be another flashy highway or mega-road project in places like Penang Island, which won’t benefit the larger population and wider markets.”