Have car, still stuck: Why Klang Valley’s traffic woes keep getting worse

Festive travel, soaring car ownership and bus route cuts are worsening congestion in Malaysia’s Klang Valley. Experts explain why and what must change. Read more at straitstimes.com.

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia’s roads and highways are more clogged than ever during festive seasons. This year is no different, but traffic in the Klang Valley feels punishing, even by local standards.

Dozens of commuters took to social media to complain about worsening traffic in the Klang Valley – a region comprising capital Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and parts of Selangor – in the weeks leading up to the Chinese New Year holidays on Feb 17 and 18.

“Why is KL suddenly jammed like this? Chinese New Year? Work from home revoked? The traffic is so crazy that even on a motorcycle, I can feel how bad it is,” wrote Ridhuanashri on Threads on Feb 11. That post garnered 1,100 likes, 72 comments and was shared 506 times.

Traffic conditions tend to build up especially around major festive periods. This time, the frenetic Chinese New Year preparations coincided with the start of the Ramadan fasting month on Feb 19, occasions that require multiple shopping trips.

Congestion is no longer just seasonal. Data and experts point to a system stretched to its limits.

According to digital mapping specialist TomTom’s traffic index, the average congestion level in KL was at 43.4 per cent in 2025, a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels of 37 per cent in 2019. The data also points to a shift in traffic patterns, with congestion spreading outside of traditional rush hours.