Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Left
Condition of the roads
According to top-medical-schools, most of the peninsula’s roads are paved and well signposted. However, in rural regions, especially in eastern Malaysia, there are many gravel roads that are difficult to drive on and often impassable during monsoon rains.
Car rental
There are car rental companies at airports and in cities. Drivers must be at least 23 years old and have held their driver’s license for at least one year. Some car rental companies state a maximum age of 70 years.
Taxi
Taxis are readily available in cities from taxi ranks and often in front of larger hotels; in smaller towns they can be ordered by telephone. There are also shared taxis, but they only start from a certain number of passengers. Taxi coupons, which offer fixed fares for specific routes, can be purchased at Kuala Lumpur train station and airport; when taking a taxi without a coupon, travelers should make sure that the taximeter is switched on. From 00:00 – 06:00 there is a surcharge of 50% and if you order a taxi by phone there is an additional charge.
Coach
Long Distance Bus: There is a wide range of buses and bus routes connecting Kuala Lumpur with the rest of the country. Both with and without air conditioning, they run regularly at reasonable fares that depend on the distances. The main provider of coach connections is Transnasional. Minibuses with fixed fares operate in the larger cities.
Regulations
Traffic regulations: – alcohol limit: 0.8 ‰; – Telephoning at the wheel is only permitted with a hands-free system; – Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists. Speed limits: – in built-up areas: 60 km/h; – on rural roads: 90 km/h; – on motorways: 110 km/h.
Roadside Assistance
The ADAC partner club in Malaysia is Persatuan Automobil Malaysia (AAM) in Shah Alam, Selangor, Tel. 1300 226 226 (24-hour hotline).
Documentation
The international driver’s license must be carried along in addition to the national driver’s license.
Traveling in the city
Kuala Lumpur’s public transport system includes buses, various rail lines (overground and underground), taxis and trishaws (rickshaws). The bus network is mainly operated by RapidKL; some more lines of Metrobus and Triton. Rail lines include the monorail line that connects Kuala Lumpur with Titiwangsa and the major cities of the Golden Triangle, the Kelana Jaya line that runs between Kelana Jaya and Gombak, and the Ampang LRT line that starts in Sentul Timur and has two ultimate destinations: Sri Petaling and Ampang. The state railway company KTMB also offers a network of local trains, so-called commuters, which connect the city with the suburbs. When using taxis and trishaws (rickshaws),
Locally on the way by train
The Railway Company of the Malaysian States (KTMB) operates the country’s rail transport. There are two main railway lines. The busiest railway route runs along the west coast of Malaysia from Pedang Besar to Johor Bharu; the second, to the east, from Tumpat to Gemas, where it meets the west coast line. Rail links also exist to the main seaports of Penang and Padang Besar on the west coast. East Malaysia (Sabah and Borneo) has only one railway line, the North Borneo Railway, also known as the Jungle Railway. The North Borneo Railway is the main link to Taman Negara National Park; it begins in Kota Inabulu (Sabah), runs along the coast and through a deep jungle valley to Papar.
Traveling by ship
Coastal ferries run regularly between Penang and Butterworth. There are also regular ferry services to larger islands such as Langkawi (from Kuala Perlis with Langkawi Ferry Services Sdn Bhd), Pangkor and Mersing-Tioman. Longtail boats operate between Labuan and Sabah. Small river boats are a convenient means of transport in East Malaysia and are sometimes the only way (other than by helicopter) to reach remote villages. Boats can be rented; there are also river ferries and water taxis. The ferries and excursion boats inland often do not meet international safety standards.
