Crawling Traffic In Kuala Lumpur

Traffic was crawling from the Federal Highway heading to Petaling Jaya as Wuan and I left Mid Valley Megamall heading to Cheras at around 9.00pm just now. As soon as we reached the Istana Negara we were caught in another crawl all the way to Jalan Sungai Besi right up to Menara PGRM at Pudu Ulu. We reached home at 10.55pm in a journey that usually took 20 minutes only.

Mad rush to fill up fuel tank before price increase
Photo by Wuan.

We noticed that there were long queues of cars and motorcycles at petrol stations. So, the pump price of RON 97 will be increased to RM2.70 from RM1.92 effective midnight tonight. The RM625 rebate per year for cars with engine capacity up to 2000cc will not be sufficient to cover the additional fuel cost we will incur for one year even if the price remains at RM2.70 for the entire period. The impending 18% raise in electricity rate will be another dent to our household expenses after the recent price increase in rice. We shudder in anticipation of the price increase of all essential goods that will rise in tandem in the immediate future.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

2 thoughts on “Crawling Traffic In Kuala Lumpur”

  1. Jalan Maarof of Bangsar (which is 5 petrol stations if I remember correctly) was overflowing with cars when I went to the shops at 7ish, and was still jammed up at 8.30 when I got home (usually takes me less 5 minutes, today 30 mins). My sister went back about 11.15pm and it was still jam. Can’t blame the folks I suppose.

    The RM625 will only last me 4 months at the new rate and 2 months, if rumours that it will go as high as RM4 by August.

    Peter:
    All that trouble just for a once-off saving and jamming up KL in that process? I just went through my petrol bills for May – RM180. The price increase is going to nudge it over RM250 and even more if I drive up to Penang. At RM4 it is going to hit RM375. This is going to be a very painful painful process for car owners.

  2. Good question, Peter. I really wonder what these people were thinking.

    It took me an hour just to crawl myself out of DU and another two hours to return to Subang Jaya. The journey usually takes me 30 minutes.

    I think the Government wants more people to take the public transports. But hold on, it seems that they want to increase RapidKL’s fares.

    Peter:
    That is Malaysian kiasuness at work – penny wise and pound foolish. Imagine the time wasted waiting to fill up the tank.

    I really do not mind taking public transport but it is neither efficient nor accessible to disabled people. That was one of the reasons why we got a car. Now with the fuel price hike, it is going to cost a lot more but what can people in my condition do? The government ignored or pleas to make public transport accessible to all.

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