SHAH ALAM, Dec 19 – Local authorities in Selangor have been urged not to rely solely on state or Federal allocations to implement small-scale projects that improve last-mile connectivity, especially for pedestrians and public transport users.
The Star reported state executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han as saying that basic infrastructure like covered walkways and pedestrian paths typically cost between RM50,000 and RM100,000 and could be financed from the authorities’ own budgets.
“This amount can be sourced from the council’s own budget. They should not be waiting for a larger budget all the time,” he said during the launch of the Petaling Jaya Urban Transportation Master Plan (PIP) 2.0 yesterday.
Ng also called on the local authorities to proactively identify and address missing links that could make public transport journeys more seamless.
The PIP 2.0 outlines strategies and initiatives spanning traffic management, public transport, pedestrian infrastructure, and overall connectivity in Petaling Jaya.
He added that mobility planning must translate into tangible productivity gains for residents, highlighting that congestion continues to impose high economic and time costs.
“In the context of productivity and mobility solutions, we no longer wish to be affected by studies showing Selangor residents lose productivity due to time spent on the road,” Ng said.
He cited a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia report published in July, which found that Klang Valley motorists spent an average of 580 hours a year stuck in traffic, in addition to about RM9,000 annually on vehicle maintenance and fuel.
To address this, all local authorities have been instructed to propose new pedestrian and micro-mobility routes linking major public transport hubs and to submit the plans to the State Mobility Standing Committee, along with an updated inventory, to the Selangor State Economic Planning Unit.
“This effort is part of the state’s initiative to strengthen safe, connected and conducive pedestrian networks throughout Selangor,” Ng said.
He also hoped that existing pedestrian infrastructure under local authorities could be standardised and improved for user convenience, including clearing obstructions like trees and signboards.
