Malaysia has well-developed air and sea connections. It is also accessible by road and rail through Thailand and Singapore. More than 25 major airlines service the international airports throughout the nation. Port Klang and Penang in the Straits of Malacca link the country to the rest of the world by sea.
Get more information about transportation in Malaysia at the list below:
Driving in Peninsular Malaysia on the expressway is very pleasant. It's a wonderful experience as you can stop anywhere in your own time. The scenery is lush and green and you can always stop overnight at any of the towns as there are always a number of hotels available throughout the journey.
Almost 80 percent of Malaysian roads are paved. An overland journey from Thailand to Singapore can be made easily through Peninsular Malaysia by driving through the North-South Expressway on the west coast and through the East-West Highway to the east coast. Buses, taxis and coaches, both interstate and local, also ply between various destinations.
The speed limit on the Expressway is usually 110km/hr, but in some areas it is only 90 km/hr. Expressway users pay a toll based on the distance travelled and the type of vehicle. They collect a transit ticket from the entry toll plaza and pay the toll at the exit toll plaza.
Located along the Expressway are several Rest and Service Areas with food stalls, toilets, public telephones, petrol stations and parking areas. There are also laybys with toilets, public phones and parking areas. If your vehicle breaks down or if you're involved in an accident, you can contact the 24-hour-service PLUSRONDA for assistance by using the Emergency Telephones placed every two kilometres on either side of the Expressway. Furthermore, the Traffic Monitoring Centre handles inquiries from Expressway users and can be contacted at 03-2920000.
To drive on Malaysian roads, you require a Malaysian Competent Driving Licence, Probationary Driving Licence or an International Driving Licence. To use a foreign licence, get it endorsed by the Road Transport Department. Please note that all vehicles move on the left-hand side of the road and that the use of safety belts by front passengers is mandatory.
Malaysia has 5 international airports, 14 domestic airports and 18 airstrips. The international airports are at Sepang in Selangor, Penang Island, Langkawi Island, Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, and Kuching in Sarawak. To cope with the increasing volume in air traffic, a sixth international airport has been planned in the nothern region - Kuala Muda, Kedah.
Malaysia Airlines, the country's national carrier, operates most of the domestic flights within West and East Malaysia and also those within East and West Malaysia. Pelangi Air, a private operator, also operates scheduled domestic flights from Subang; most of them to island resorts. Air Asia, Transmile, and Berjaya Air and other carriers operate charter flights out of the airport to various domestic and regional destinations.
In East Malaysia, apart from the regular services between major towns, Malaysia Airlines also operates its Rural Air Services which flies Twin Otters to a host of rural airstrips. Also, SEAGA Airlines has flights from Kuching, Sibu and Kota Kinabalu to Mulu National Park.
It is possible to travel by rail within and to Peninsular Malaysia via Thailand and from Singapore. Malayan Railways or Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) connects all major towns in the Peninsular. First, Second or Economy Class air-conditioned coaches are available.
Senandung Malam is a KL-Butterworth-KL and KL-Singapore-KL sectional nightly service. Sleeping berths are provided in the first and second class coaches.
All express services have a restaurant coach serving local and continental cuisine. Tickets may be purchased 60 days in advance from the date of travel. Children aged from four to twelve are charged half the adult fare whilst those below four travel free. Available to foreign tourists is the 30-day or 10-day Tourist Railpass which provides unlimited travel on KTM during that period.
Many popular island destinations like Langkawi, Pangkor, Redang and Tioman are linked to the mainland by regular ferry services. Other smaller islands are accessible by fishing boats which may be chartered. Ferry services are also available from Tanjung Belungkor, Kukup, Desaru, Johor Bahru Duty Free Zone and Sebana Cove (all in Johor) to Singapore and from Butterworth to Penang.