KLANG: The Association of Malaysian Hauliers (AMH) has raised alarm over worsening traffic congestion along the Klang–Shah Alam corridor.
Its secretary-general Mohamad Azuan Masud said the gridlock was undermining operational efficiency and driving up costs across the logistics and supply chain sector.
"Heavy goods vehicles are facing increasingly unpredictable travel times, leading to higher fuel consumption, delivery delays and reduced operational efficiency," said Mohamad Azuan.
He added that with diesel prices on the rise, prolonged congestion has become an economic burden not only for hauliers but for the nation's economy.
According to him, the immediate solution to the problem would be for the authorities to temporarily open Section 4 of the West Coast Expressway (WCE).
Unfortunately, the anticipated temporary opening of Section 4, which was widely publicised ahead of Hari Raya 2026, has yet to happen, he added.
Mohamad Azuan said that opening up Section 4 would provide immediate easing of traffic pressures by improving connectivity from the Federal Highway to the northbound WCE.
“The temporary opening would deliver immediate relief to all traffic users," he said.
According to Mohamad Azuan, the route would potentially divert traffic away from congested roads and speed the movement of heavy vehicles.
He added that the WCE is seen by hauliers as a strategic artery for port-to-port connectivity.
Mohamad Azuan explained that the route's relatively flatter alignment, compared to existing routes, offered operational benefits, including improved fuel efficiency, shorter travel and turnaround times, and lower overall logistics costs.
"Industry observations indicate that prolonged congestion can increase fuel consumption by roughly 15–25% per trip along critical corridors, significantly impacting operating expenses and contributing to higher goods prices," he said.
Mohamad Azuan said hauliers were currently forced to shoulder the full impact of daily congestion without interim relief.
He said the industry was also previously impacted due to delays related to land acquisition for Section 3 of the WCE.
However, after the delay was resolved last December, the development of Section 3 of the WCE had offered relief and optimism within the industry.
The AMH urged authorities to expedite measures that would alleviate traffic bottlenecks and ease the mounting cost pressures facing the logistics industry.
