LRT trains running through elevated train tracks near Taman Bahagian and Taman Jaya Station. - ART CHEN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: While road and transportation experts have welcomed new initiatives in Budget 2026, they say more need to be done to improve road safety.
Road safety expert Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said the allocations reflected a pragmatic approach to long-term national goals of increasing connectivity, closing regional development gaps and improving road safety in the country.
The allocation of RM3.3bil for rural infrastructure projects and RM155mil, especially for Orang Asli village roads, signals a clear commitment to bridging urban-rural divides.
“Investing in roads for Orang Asli communities and rural area such as Pahang, Perak and Terengganu is vital.
“It means better access to schools, clinics and local markets, which directly improves quality of life and economic participation,” he added.
He said road safety is not just enforcement and education.
“It begins with design and infrastructure.
“Well-lit roads save lives. The LED installations will significantly reduce night-time accidents,” he added.
Law said the focus on road maintenance, RM2.5bil for federal roads, RM5.6bil under Marris (Malaysian Road Records Information System) for state roads, and RM700mil allocated to G1 to G4 contractors, shows an understanding that infrastructure sustainability depends as much on maintenance as on new construction.
“It decentralises maintenance and accelerates problem-solving. Potholes and road hazards can now be addressed much faster,” he said.
Malaysia Land Public Transport Forum chairperson Zac Cheong said the transport allocations in Budget 2026 failed to address the root causes of Malaysia’s traffic and public transport woes.
He said while the RM1bil allocation for new LRT trains under the Kelana Jaya Line is welcomed, it overlooked other pressing issues in other rail lines in the country.
“The investment is much-needed for the Kelana Jaya Line, but ignores the larger structural issues plaguing other parts of our rail network.
“This includes ageing systems on the Kajang MRT Line and the KTM commuter services outside the Klang Valley.”
Cheong also criticised the government’s RM4,000 vehicle scrapping grant, calling it a “misguided policy” that would not solve congestion or improve road safety.
“It simply swaps an old car for a new one on our already-choked roads, and it overlooks that driver behaviour is the primary factor in road safety.
“This money should be reallocated to improve public transit services instead,” he said.
However, Cheong said if the vehicle scrapping grant scheme is to be implemented, it should be restricted to the purchase of new or green-energy vehicles such as electric cars such as EV, PHEV and full hybrids.
Cheong said the RM200mil allocation for enhancing stage bus services also does not fix systemic issues of buses in the country that made them undesirable by many commuters.
“What we need are fundamentals – dedicated bus lanes to ensure speed and reliability, land allocation for staging depots and central terminals.
“Competitive wages and intake of part-time drivers should also be considered to address the chronic shortage of bus drivers,” he said.
