Asean Summit's gift to KL traffic woes
COMMENT | Let me state that this is not a satirical piece - I honestly think the lessons from the recent Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur can teach us much about the traffic problem in the city and even solve it.
Bear with me. I can safely say that the traffic problem has been with us for over half a century. In 1970, I was living in Sentul and had to travel every weekday morning right across town to Pantai, where Universiti Malaya was located.
It took me at least three hours both ways on a good day. I sometimes took shortcuts. If I got off at the Kuala Lumpur main railway station from the bus which I took at the university, and timed it at the appropriate hour - 12.30pm at lunch and 4.30pm in the evening, I could avoid road traffic and save 45 minutes for that 10-minute ride to Sentul and the five-minute walk to home. Bliss.
KTM ran train services for its staff at these times, and in...
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Malaysiakini
30-05-2025
- Malaysiakini
Asean Summit's gift to KL traffic woes
COMMENT | Let me state that this is not a satirical piece - I honestly think the lessons from the recent Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur can teach us much about the traffic problem in the city and even solve it. Bear with me. I can safely say that the traffic problem has been with us for over half a century. In 1970, I was living in Sentul and had to travel every weekday morning right across town to Pantai, where Universiti Malaya was located. It took me at least three hours both ways on a good day. I sometimes took shortcuts. If I got off at the Kuala Lumpur main railway station from the bus which I took at the university, and timed it at the appropriate hour - 12.30pm at lunch and 4.30pm in the evening, I could avoid road traffic and save 45 minutes for that 10-minute ride to Sentul and the five-minute walk to home. Bliss. KTM ran train services for its staff at these times, and in...
Malaysian Reserve
27-05-2025
- Malaysian Reserve
I need to be there, there and there
Road closures are the price locals have to pay for the necessary exercise of regional and international diplomacy THE ASEAN Summit, or to be precise, the summit's attending circus, has rolled into town. If you're one of the thousands of motorists whose vehicle is currently parked on an expressway somewhere near Kuala Lumpur (KL), this was information that would have been useful before you turned your ignition this morning. Now you're stuck, probably needing a toilet too, but it's not the end of the world. Think of it as taking one for the team, just lean your seat back and think of durian. As my friend Jimmy would say 'who call you never read the Internet one'. To be fair, much information has been put out by the government over road closures that will be made between May 23 and 28. To be more accurate, the road closure information consists of a chart with names of roads and their expected closure times. This was to make sure all the officials and dignitaries would have unhindered travel during the ASEAN Summit extravaganza as they go from airport to hotels to conference rooms, and for spouses, to batik-printing demonstrations. The ASEAN Summit, like other gabfests around the world when Heads of State convene, is always justified by their all-important pronouncement at the end of it. The heads of ASEAN, who will ponder collectively in KL about matters ranging from US President Donald Trump's tariffs to regional security, are expected to come out with a good joint statement this year and also pave the way for another one a few months ahead where China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will also join in the fun. The fact that many citizens think ASEAN countries never intervene with each other or have never resolved any issues to date is moot and honestly rude. This very important biannual gabfest is also a good time for the leader of the host nation to show off his capital city to his friends. That's why their comfort and security are paramount over any minor discomfort the property of the Klang Valley may feel. 'Why don't they just hold it in Putrajaya? There's nobody there?' is a common Klang Valley gripe. Another is: 'Isn't that what Putrajaya was built for? Its raison d'etre?' As a resident of Cyberjaya, which is cheek-by-jowl with the national Admin City, I would agree. I would also advocate that Cyberjaya residents evacuate to other parts of the country for the duration of any events like an ASEAN Summit. After studying the current planned road closures, the conclusion is that Cyberjaya is now a landlocked island until the 28th. No one is coming in or going out. Toilet supplies are limited, but we think we will manage. 'Better be worth it, lor; we still remember last month when the Chinese taiko came over. I got stuck on MEX (Maju Expressway) two hours, you know.' ZB Othman is an editor of The Malaysian Reserve. This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
Malay Mail
22-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Asean Summit in KL: Roads and places to avoid from May 23 to 28
KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — Get ready, KL drivers: the Asean Summit is returning to the city from today to May 28, bringing heightened security, rolling road closures, and heavy traffic disruptions. As Southeast Asia's top leaders converge for high-stakes diplomacy, many key roads around the capital will be off-limits or heavily controlled. Here's what you need to know to avoid getting stuck during the week-long event: When and where to expect road closures May 23–26 (7am until delegations arrive each day): Closures will occur along major highways and routes leading into the city from KLIA and Putrajaya. Affected highways: 1. Elite (KLIA–Putrajaya) 2. Mex (Putrajaya–KL) 3. NKVE (Subang to Jalan Duta) 4. Guthrie Corridor Expressway 5. North–South Expressway (Sungai Buloh to Jalan Duta) 6. KL–Seremban Expressway (Sungai Besi to city centre) City roads: 1. Lingkaran Putrajaya 2. Jalan Istana 3. Jalan Damansara 4. Jalan Tun Razak 5. Jalan Ampang 6. Jalan Sultan Ismail 7. Jalan Bukit Bintang 8. Jalan Imbi 9. Jalan Parlimen 10. Jalan Kuching Details on road closures: May 26 (from 5.30pm until delegations arrive): Expect closures around key intersections in the city centre: 1. Jalan Ampang / Jalan P. Ramlee 2. Jalan Sultan Ismail / Jalan P. Ramlee 3. Jalan Perak / Jalan P. Ramlee 4. Jalan Perak / Jalan Pinang 5. Jalan Stonor / Jalan Kia Peng 6. Jalan Stonor / Persiaran KLCC May 27: Closures will be staggered throughout the day. 8am–10.30am: 1. Intersections around Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Stonor, Jalan Kia Peng and Jalan Pinang 11.45am–1pm: 1. Jalan Tun Razak 2. Jalan Mahameru 3. Jalan Sultan Abdul Halim 1.45pm–3pm: 1. Jalan Parlimen 2. Jalan Kuching 3. Jalan Sultan Ismail / Jalan P. Ramlee 4. Jalan Perak / Jalan Pinang 5. Jalan Stonor / KLCC May 28 (from 8am onwards): Expect another round of full closures during departures, including all the same highways and major roads as May 23–26. Areas and places likely to be affected If you're planning to head into town, here are some key places to either avoid or plan your trips around: KLCC area: As the summit venue, expect frequent motorcades, police presence, and complete lockdowns around the Convention Centre, Petronas Twin Towers, and surrounding roads, including the Ampang Park area. Hartamas area: With some roads near Istana Negara closed, landmarks such as the KL High Court, Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan, Matrade, Mitec, and Publika will be difficult to access. Shopping hotspots: Suria KLCC, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Fahrenheit88, Lot 10, and malls along Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail may experience intermittent closures. Other malls, such as Lalaport and Berjaya Times Square, may also face access difficulties. Embassies and diplomatic zones: Embassies along Jalan Ampang and Jalan Tun Razak, including those of the US, UK, and China, may have increased traffic controls and security checkpoints. Government buildings: Roads around Parliament, Istana Negara, Bank Negara, and the Perdana Putra complex in Putrajaya will be on high alert. Access to key landmarks such as Muzium Negara may also be affected. Reaching key landmarks such as Muzium Negara could also prove challenging. — Picture via Facebook KL Sentral and transport hubs: The city's main rail hub may experience spillover traffic, especially if Jalan Damansara or Jalan Mahameru is temporarily closed. What can you do? Take public transport such as the MRT, LRT, and Monorail where possible. Rapid KL will extend peak-hour LRT and MRT services: • Morning peak: 6.30am–10am • Evening peak: 4.30pm–8pm Weekend services (May 24–25): Train frequency will increase, with intervals as short as four minutes on some routes. Some bus routes may face delays due to intermittent roadblocks. Affected routes include: • 402 (LRT Titiwangsa – LRT Maluri) • 302 (LRT Titiwangsa – KLCC) • 300 and 303 For Real-time traffic updates: • JSPT/PDRM social media • The PLUS app • X (formerly Twitter) @PLUSTrafik • Highway electronic boards (VMS) Plan ahead: • Avoid KLCC, Ampang, or Bukit Bintang during peak hours • Use navigation apps for live rerouting • Consider working remotely if your office is in affected zones • Leave extra time for airport trips
