Buses
Buses are a cheap and efficient means of getting around KL. The only problem is being able to decipher the system itself. Having foxed many a foreigner and local alike, the city’s bus companies are beginning to coordinate themselves even so much as to publish the first bus and rail timetable for the Klang Valley this summer – in fear of literally losing thousands of spectators to the 16th Commonwealth Games this September. It is hoped that this new publication of bus routes and times will continue to be printed long after the Games are over.
Fares on almost all IntraKota (707-7771 for timetable information) buses, recongnisable by the blue, grey and gold colours, charge a flat-fare of 90sen. Coins are dropped into the machines as you board the bus, no change is given and you must keep the ticket printed from the next machine along (usually just behind the driver) with you at all times in case ticket inspectors board the bus. For longer IntraKota routes excess fares may be charged according to distance. Travelling by IntraKota buses is often recommended as they do provide comfortable air-conditioned journeys with some respite from the intense city heat. The pink Minibuses so famed for in KL for its rude service and packing skills (that one usually found oneself clinging onto the bus outside) have at last been scrapped, much to the delight of most KL-ites. Often driven by unlicenced Indonesian drivers with a death-wish, these drivers rarely knew how to navigate the streets of Jakarta, let alone KL. The other major bus companies you may use are those that ply specialised suburban routes – CityLiner, MetroBus (running west to Subang, Petaling Jaya (PJ) from KL city centre) and the Len Seng Omnibus Co. (running north to Batu Caves and Selayang). These bus companies use a fare-zoning system due to the distances covered by them.
Taxis
Taxis or teksi in KL, are required by law, to run by the meter with a flag-down fare of RM2 for the first two km and 10sen for every 200 metres until your destination. Telephone bookings incur an additional surcharge of RM1 and after midnight until 6am, there is an additional 50% surcharge on the metered fare also. If there are more than two pasengers travelling, another 20sen per person is added and luggage in the boot is charged at RM1 a piece. Tips are not encouraged but 10% can be given at your discretion. Should there be any discrepencies with the fare, you should take down the drivers name and vehicle number (the drivers photo-id and number is also required by law to be attached to the dashboard) and report the case to the KL Taxi Drivers Association (221-4241) and the Tourist Police (249-6590, 24-hours).
KL taxis unfortunately have been subject to much criticism over recent years and the problems have been difficult to fix. Due to the traffic woes of the city, taxi-drivers have lately been finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet, whilst having to tolerate the constant traffic jams and irate motorists for up to fifteen hours a day. The government meanwhile has been rather slow or perhaps reluctant in implementing realistic fare increases. This is perhaps why you may see taxis refusing passengers should the time of the day be inconducive to traffic for that particular destination – along with their mental and financial health. Everyone in KL finds this frustrating and perhaps in the light of improved bus and light-rail transport (LRT) systems, the humble taxi driver may find driving in KL more appealing.
Should you be desperate for a taxi however the best thing to do is to phone for one or walk calmly into the nearest major hotel and subtly join the queue placed for its guests as most major hotels have an automatic taxi-calling service. Another possibility is to hire a taxi all to yourself for the day and many major hotels can arrange this for you with rates starting from about RM35 an hour.
Taxi Companies
Light-Rail Transit (LRT) System
KL’s spanking new LRT system (operating under the acronym STAR – Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan) came on-line in 1997 with the opening of phase one which consisted of one line travelling east to Ampang. Phase two opened in the middle of 1998 and compliments the original line within the city before branching south to the Commonwealth Games village at the National Sports Centre in Bukit Jalil. Projek Utama Transit Ringan (PUTRA) is the other main line which started running from the city centre to Bangsar and PJ to the west in 1999. Both PUTRA and STAR operate as separate companies and thus use different trains and stations. However, citing the need for an integrated transport system for KL, fare structures and ticketing between the two systems are combined along with the STAR-Feeder and PUTRA-line feeder bus services operating locally from each LRT station as well as the IntraKota bus services operating city-wide.
Fares start at RM1 for short hops around the city and the three lines provide a quick, comfortable ride through the main parts of the city and the surrounding suburbs. Ticket machines are provided at each station and the PUTRA stations within the city centre are air-conditioned.
Train
Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) is the national rail service provider and operates a comprehensive network of local trains within the Klang Valley under the 'KTM Komuter' umbrella. Commuter trains operate regularly from Rawang and Sentul in the north to Seremban in the south and a second western line operates from KL’s main railway station trough PJ and Subang to Shah Alam and terminates at Port Klang. Fares on KTM Komuter trains start at 50sen and tickets can be obtained from automated vending machines.
The Express Rail Link to the new KL International Airport (KLIA) unfortunately has been delayed following insufficient funds – this service was to provide a high-speed rail-link direct from KL’s new Sentral Station, but KLIA bound passengers will for now have to contend with the KTM Komuter service to Nilai. The ERL is now due to enter service in 2001. See Arrival for more information.
By Foot
Kuala Lumpur city itself is surprisingly small. You may find many areas of KL quite conducive to walking but the real challenge would be your susceptibility to the heat. Traffic can also be a problem too as motorists in KL are not particularly accustomed to pedestrians – themselves resigned to the fact that the weather is just not conducive to walking. Areas like Chinatown, Little India, Jalan TAR and Bukit Bintang are perhaps best explored on foot and have a variety of shops and cafes for you to stop in and cool off from time to time. Another point to note that the weather in KL is becoming increasingly difficult to predict – a cloudless blue sky may suddenly turn black and before you know it you may be caught in a torrential downpour. These downpours although welcoming from the searing heat are not to be taken lightly as lightning in the city can be surprisingly fearsome. Take shelter in a café or shop as they rarely last for very long and avoid stand under trees at your peril - which often get struck!
