As Budget 2026 approaches, public attention will once again turn to what the government is prepared to allocate for the transport sector.
Traditionally, roads and highways have received the lion’s share of funding. Billions have been poured into road expansion, highway concessions, and maintenance.
Yet despite substantial spending, public benefits remain limited and questionable — especially given the recurring need for the government to subsidise toll rates during festive seasons.
Congestion is still crippling, road accidents remain a national tragedy, and overloaded lorries continue to damage highways while causing fatal crashes.
ECRL
The time has come to rethink our priorities and transport strategies.
With the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) expected to begin operations in early 2027, the government must now focus on strengthening rail transport instead of continuing to over-invest in roads.
The imbalance between road and rail investment is stark. While highways stretch across the country, the rail network remains underdeveloped, fragmented, and poorly integrated with ports and industrial hubs.
This has forced much of the cargo onto lorries, worsening congestion and making logistics less efficient.
If the government is serious about reducing accidents, cutting logistics costs, and improving efficiency, the next budget must allocate substantial funds to rail.
This means not only upgrading existing lines but also investing in rail extensions, sidings, and direct port connections to facilitate the seamless movement of goods.
Urgent need for Port Klang bypass
One of the most pressing issues is the lack of a dedicated freight rail bypass to Port Klang.
Currently, cargo trains from the north and south are forced to run through KL Sentral — the main passenger hub, creating a serious bottleneck. To make matters worse, freight trains are only permitted to use this corridor between midnight and 6.00am.
This artificial restriction has crippled KTM’s ability to handle more freight, giving the lorries and highways ready opportunities to outdo rail transport, both in terms of tonnage and door to door services.
The result is predictable: our roads and highways are clogged with overloaded lorries, resulting in a higher accident rate, damaged roads, and rising logistics costs.
A properly funded Port Klang rail bypass is therefore urgent. It would free cargo movement from unnecessary bottlenecks, increase KTM’s competitiveness, and significantly reduce reliance on lorries.
If Budget 2026 fails to address this, Malaysia will continue to pay the price in loss of human lives and efficiency.
Where’s the ‘wow’ factor?
Every year, Malaysians expect a “wow” factor from the national budget, often in the form of grand infrastructure projects. But a new highway is no longer impressive — it is repetitive, outdated and short-sighted.
A true “wow” factor would be a bold reallocation of funds to rail, making it the backbone of both passenger travel and cargo logistics.
This includes higher allocations for ECRL and KTM, not just for construction, but also for coordinated studies on how best to integrate their services, reduce duplication, and maximise efficiency.
Rail investment is not just about moving people faster. It is about future-proofing Malaysia’s economy: lowering transport costs, cutting carbon emissions, reducing road fatalities, and meeting the demands of modern logistics.
Budget 2026 must send a clear signal that Malaysia is ready to prioritise sustainable, efficient, and safe transport.
That means shifting the focus away from roads — where investments have already peaked with poor returns — and directing serious funds towards rail.
If we get this right, Malaysia could finally reduce its dependence on lorries, unclog its highways, and build a transport system fit for the next generation.
That would be the real “wow” factor we need.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.