Malaysian Federal Roads System

) runs from Segamat, Johor to Gambang, Pahang.

A direction signboard on Federal Route 3 in Terengganu, Malaysia

Malaysian Federal Roads System (Malay: Sistem Laluan Persekutuan Malaysia), is the main national road network in Malaysia. All Federal Roads in Malaysia are under the purview of Ministry of Works (MOW). According to Minister's Function Act 1969, MOW responsible to plan, build and maintain all Federal Roads gazetted under the Federal Road Act 1959. However, most of the Federal roads' projects was built and maintained by the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) which are also one of the implementing agency under the MOW (with exception of Sabah and Sarawak, whereby JKR in these two states is under respective state government).

History

Most of the federal roads in Peninsular Malaysia were built during the British colonial era before 1957. At that time, the British government built the roads in order to enable them to transport goods and commodities easier.

In Sabah, most of the federal roads were built during the occupation of British North Borneo under North Borneo Chartered Company administration, and unlike most federal roads in Peninsular Malaysia which uses only numbers to label federal roads, Sabah federal road codes begin with the letter A followed by route number.

However, in Sarawak, no road network system was developed during the rule of White Rajah Brooke dynasty. As a result, right after Sarawak joined the federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, the federal government of Malaysia began to built a road network system connecting Sarawak to Sabah, known as Pan Borneo Highway.

Federal road standards

Malaysian federal road shield

Overview

The total length of federal roads is 49,935 km (31,028 mi).

Federal routes are labeled with only numbers for example Federal Route while state routes are labeled with the state code letter followed by assigned numbers, for example Route J32 is a Johor state road. However, federal route numbers can also be added with the prefix, which is normally used by JKR and Malaysian police. For example Federal Route can also be written as Federal Route Both federal and state roads have blue road signs and the text colour is white.

Most of the federal roads in Malaysia are 2-lane roads. Malaysia implements a right-hand driving system where drivers drive on the left side of the road. However, there are in certain places where additional lanes are available. In town areas, federal roads may become 4-lane roads to increase traffic capacity. In hilly areas, additional third climbing lane is available for slower vehicles such as buses and lorries.

Some federal roads may have motorcycle lanes. On Malaysian federal roads, the motorcycle lanes are placed at the extreme left side of each direction and only separated from the main lanes by black-and-white stripes to enable motorcyclists to overtake slower motorcycles and to turn right to exit the road.

Some expressways in Malaysia such as Federal Highway and Skudai Highway are federally funded, therefore all federally funded expressways are also classified as federal roads.

Nearly all federal roads are paved with typical tarmac except Skudai-Pontian Highway which is paved with concrete from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia interchange to Taman Sri Pulai junction and Sitiawan-Batak Rabit road (Federal route ) from Sitiawan to Kota Setia. Meanwhile at Federal Highway linking Klang to Kuala Lumpur, the section of the highway from Subang Jaya to Kota Darul Ehsan near Petaling Jaya are paved with asphalt.

Sarawak has some of the most extensive federal road network in Malaysia. All federal roads in Sarawak is connecting main divisions with exception of Mukah division. As for Kapit division, the only federal road serving this division is Jalan Bakun (starting from KM 95 - KM 120). Coastal road of Bintulu-Miri is a still in dispute between federal government and state government right of maintenance. It is due to the construction is federal funded, but the compensation and acquisition of land are from Sarawak state government. No federal roads are isolated from the network unlike state roads. Uniquely in Sarawak, federal road network is adjoined internationally to Brunei highway at Sungai Tujuh (Miri) with Kuala Belait (Brunei), Tedungan (Limbang) with Kuala Lurah (Brunei), Limbang with Puni (Brunei), Lawas with Labu (Brunei) and also to Indonesian road network at Tebedu (Serian district) with Entikong (Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia).

Malaysian federal roads are subject to the rural highway standard adopted by Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR), ranging from R1 and R1a (minor roads at villages and FELDA settlements with no access control and low speed limits) to R5 (federal roads or highways with limited access control and speed limits up to 90 km/h). R6 standard is exclusive for high-speed (up to 110 km/h) expressways with full access control.

Type of federal roads and route number categories

Examples	Information	Number digits
	Main federal route numbers	001 - 249
	Institutional facilities federal roads	250 - 479
	Main federal route numbers (Sarawak)	1-1 - 1-59 3-1 - 3-99
	Main federal route numbers (Sabah)	A01 - A99
	Main federal route numbers (Labuan)	700 - 799
	FELDA/FELCRA federal route numbers	1000 - 1999 2000 - 2999
	Industrial federal route numbers	3000 - 3999

Main federal roads

Mostly found at Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

FELDA/FELCRA federal roads

Mostly found at FELDA and FELCRA settlements in Peninsula Malaysia only. The road was built by FELDA or FELCRA and JKR.

In Sarawak, federal roads for FELDA is in Lundu and for SALCRA is in Sarikei.

Industrial federal roads

Mostly found at the industrial areas in Peninsula Malaysia only.

In Sarawak, there are two industrial federal roads, which are located at Pending Industrial Estate in Kuching and Kidurong Industrial Estate in Bintulu.

Institutional facilities federal roads

Mostly found at the entrance to the federal institutional facilities such as university, military bases, satelite earth stations, airports, TV and radio frequency stations, telecom exchange stations, hospitals and tourist attractions.

For more information, please refer to Road signs in Malaysia articles or Malaysian Road Signs Information Brochure

Road design

Rural

Standard	Max design speed limit (km/h)	Minimum lane width (m)	Access control	Application
JKR R6	120	3.5	Full	Expressways under the administration of Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA)
JKR R5	100	3.5	Partial	Primary roads and partial access highways for the Federal JKR
JKR R4	90	3.25	Partial	Main / secondary roads
JKR R3	70	3.0	Partial	Secondary roads
JKR R2	60	2.75	None	Minor roads Note: JKR R2 is the minimum geometrical standard for 2-lane roads
JKR R1	40	(5.0)*	None	Single-lane minor roads (country lane)
JKR R1a	40	(4.5)*	None	Single-lane roads (roads to restricted areas such as quarries)

Urban

Standard	Max design speed limit (km/h)	Minimum lane width (m)	Access control	Application
JKR U6	100	3.5	Full	Expressways under the administration of Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA)
JKR U5	80	3.5	Partial	Arterial roads and partial access municipal highways
JKR U4	70	3.25	Partial	Arterial / collector roads
JKR U3	60	3.0	Partial	Collector roads / Local streets
JKR U2	50	2.75	None	Local streets Note: JKR U2 is the minimum geometrical standard for 2-lane roads
JKR U1	40	(5.0)*	None	Single-lane street (in towns)
JKR U1a	40	(4.5)*	None	Single-lane street (as in low-cost housing areas)

* - Total width of 2-way road

(Source: Arahan Teknik (Jalan) 8/86 - A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads, Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia)

Malaysian federal roads as a part of Asian Highway Network

Asian Highway Network is an international project between Asian nations to develop their highway systems which will form the main routes in the Asian Highway network. There are 3 Asian Highway routes passing through Malaysia - Asian Highway Route 2 AH2, Asian Highway Route 18 AH18 and Asian Highway Route 150 North-South Expressway

New Klang Valley Expressway

North-South Expressway Central Link

Federal Route 1

Skudai Highway

Johor Causeway

The Malaysian section of Route AH18 consists of:-

The Malaysian section of Route Pan Borneo Highway

Miri-Baram Highway

Federal road maintenances

Before early 2000, the Malaysian federal roads were maintained by the Public Works Department. Beginning in 2000, the main contractors and maintenance company have the responsibility to maintain all federal roads in Malaysia.

Regions	Company
Northern region	Belati Wangsa (M) Sdn Bhd
Central and east coast region	Roadcare (M) Sdn Bhd
Southern region	Selia Selenggara (M) Sdn Bhd; a subsidiary of the Ranhill Bersekutu (M) Sdn Bhd. Federal Route is made by Selia Selanggara (M) Sdn Bhd, Roadcare (M) Sdn Bhd and Ranhill Bersekutu (M) Sdn Bhd for Batu Pahat districts.
Sabah (including Federal Territory of Labuan)	Pembinaan Kekal Mewah Sdn Bhd
Sarawak (Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei region)	PPES Works Sdn. Bhd; a subsidiary of the Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMSB) Group
Sarawak (Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu region)	HCM Engineering Sdn. Bhd.; a subsidiary of the Protasco Berhad
Sarawak (Miri, Limbang, Kapit region)	Endaya Construction Sdn. Bhd.; a subsidiary of the Encorp Properties Sdn. Bhd.

Safety

Speed limits

The default speed limit and National Speed Limits is 90 km/h (55 mph); however, a lower speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) has been implemented during festive seasons starting from the 2006 Hari Raya Aidilfitri as a preventive measure to reduce accidents during festive seasons. In town areas, the speed limit is reduced to 60 km/h (40 mph). Speed traps are also deployed by the Malaysian police at many places along the federal roads.

Accidents

Malaysian federal roads are always sites of most of the road accidents in Malaysia, especially during festive seasons.

List of accident-prone areas in Malaysian federal roads

km of Skudai-Pontian Highway () between Kangkar Pulai and Pekan Nenas.
km of Skudai-Pontian Highway () near Pekan Nenas.
km 25 ~ 34 of Muar-Segamat Road () near Kebun Bahru / Serom estate
km 13 - 16 of Seremban-Kuala Pilah Road () near Bukit Putus
km of Muar-Parit Sulong Road () near Bukit Mor
km of along Pasir Gudang Highway ()
km of Kota Tinggi-Ulu Tiram Road ()
km of Gua Musang Highway between Kuala Lipis-Gua Musang near Merapoh ()
km of Gua Musang Highway between Kuala Krai-Gua Musang ()
km of Jemaluang-Kota Tinggi Road ()
km of Karak-Temerloh Road ()
km of Temerloh-Maran Road () between route (Jengka) and Lubuk Paku junctions
km of Maran-Gambang Road ()
km of Muar-Melaka Road () near Tiang Dua, Bemban junctions
km of Melaka-Masjid Tanah Road ()
km of along Tun Razak Highway ()
km of Mantin-Seremban Road ()
km of Temerloh-Gemas Road () near Teriang estate
km of Seremban-Port Dickson Road ()
km 18 ~ 22 of Asam Jawa-Sungai Buloh Road ()
km of Second East-West Highway ()
km of Tapah-Cameron Highlands Road ()
km of Kulai-Kota Tinggi Road ()
km of Pengerang Highway ()
km of Genting Sempah-Genting Highlands Highway ()
km of North Klang Straits Bypass ()
km of Benta-Jerantut Road ()
km of Raub-Benta Road ()
km of Benta-Kuala Lipis Road ()
km of Bukit Fraser Road ()
km of Second East-West Highway () near Perak-Pahang border
km of Gua Musang-Kuala Krai Road ()
km of Seremban-Kuala Pilah Road () between Paroi and Ulu Bendul (Bukit Putus section)
km of Seremban-Kuala Klawang Road ()
km of Serian-Sri Aman Road (), at Bukit Begunan, Sri Aman, Sarawak
km of Bintulu-Sibu Road (), near Bintulu airport junction, Bintulu, Sarawak
km of Labu-Lawas Road (), just after Lawas Immigration Complex, Lawas, Sarawak (extreme road slope condition)

During festive seasons

During festive seasons such as Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Christmas and Hari Raya Aidilfitri, activities such as construction, road repairs and maintenance works have been stopped. Meanwhile a heavy goods vehicles such as logging truck, cement truck, container truck, construction materials truck and other heavy goods vehicles (except tanker lorry, provision goods truck, crane, tow truck, fire engine, ambulance etc.) are banned from using roads, highways and expressways during festive seasons. A massive nationwide operation known as Ops Sikap are held annually by the Malaysian police to ensure safety on all roads in Malaysia during festive seasons.

Natural hazards

The Public Works Department has monitored all federal roads in Malaysia and make sure that no landslides, flash floods and other natural hazards may happen again.

List of landslide-prone areas

km of along East-West Highway ()
km of Parit Sulong-Parit Yaani () between Tongkang Pechah and Sri Medan junctions
km of Maran-Gambang Road ()
km of Mantin-Seremban Road ()
km of Changkat Jering-Kuala Kangsar Road () near Bukit Berapit
km 13 - 16 of Seremban-Kuala Pilah Road () near Bukit Putus
km of Tapah-Cameron Highlands Road ()
km of Genting Sempah-Bentong Road ()
km of Gombak-Genting Sempah Road ()
km of Genting Sempah-Genting Highlands Highway ()
km of Bukit Fraser Road ()
km of Ulu Tiram-Kota Tinggi Road ()
km of Tatau-Bintulu Road ()

List of flash floods-prone areas

km 15 of Federal Highway () at Batu Tiga, Shah Alam, Selangor
km of Jerangau Highway (), Terengganu
km of Gua Musang Highway () from Kuala Krai to Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
km of federal route from Jeli to Pasir Puteh, Kelantan.
km of Pasir Gudang Highway () at Kempas Interchange, Johor Bahru, Johor
km of federal route from Segamat to Yong Peng
km of federal route from Yong Peng to Ayer Hitam
km of federal route from Batu Pahat to Kluang
km of federal route from Kluang to Mersing
km of federal route from Parit Bunga to Sungai Mati, Muar, Johor
km of federal route from Parit Sulong to Parit Yaani
km of federal route from Muar to Batu Pahat
km of federal route from Merlimau, Melaka to Parit Bunga, Muar, Johor near Sungai Rambai and Kesang
km of federal route from Pekan to Bandar Baru Rompin, Pahang.
km of federal route from Bandar Baru Rompin, Pahang to Endau, Johor.
km of federal route from Endau to Mersing, Johor.
km of federal route from Kota Tinggi to Mersing, Johor.
km of federal route at Kota Tinggi, Johor
km of federal route at Kota Tinggi, Johor
km of federal route from Kulai to Kota Tinggi, Johor.
km of federal route from Bintulu to Miri, near Lambir National Park, Miri, Sarawak.

Facilities on the Malaysian federal roads

Rest and Service Area and Restaurant and Rest Plaza (R&R R//R) - These facilities can be found at all federal roads such as Batak Rabit, Temerloh and Mersing.
U-turn - These U-turns can be found at the dual carriageway road.
JKR Road Complaint Hotline - These services can be found at all signboards along federal roads.
Road Transport Department (JPJ) Enforcement Stations - These stations can be found at all federal roads. These JPJ enforcement stations have weighing bridges to detect heavy vehicles.
Police Watch Tower - These towers can be found at all federal roads in Malaysia to monitored traffic situations during festive seasons.
Pedestrian bridge - These bridge can be found at schools, institutional facilities and towns.
Traffic lights - These yellow light can be found at the junctions and intersections.
Warning lights - These yellow light can be found at the hazardous and accident areas.
Automated Enforcement System (AES) - These systems can be found at accident-prone areas and the red-light camera at traffic light junctions.

Interesting facts

The Pan Borneo Highway is the longest federal road system in Malaysia, with the total length of 1047.18 km (length measured from Sematan, Kuching to Sungai Tujuh, Miri). If measured from Sematan (Sarawak) to Serudong (Sabah), the total length is estimated to be 1900 km (excluding Brunei stretch of Pan Borneo Highway).
Federal Route , , , , and route were a main route for Japanese Imperial forces from Thailand to Singapore during the Battle of Malaya between 1941 and 1942. There are many abandoned WWII-era bunkers along the roads.
The Federal Route is the earliest federal road in Malaysia and also the longest federal road in Peninsular Malaysia. It must not be mistaken with Sarawak Federal Route which is also labelled as no.1, with same signage.
The slip roads of Persiaran Raja Muda Musa (Route ), labeled as and , are the only slip roads designated as federal roads.
Jalan Gunung Brinchang route is the highest federal road and also the highest motorable road in Malaysia.
Jalan Sitiawan-Batak Rabit and Skudai-Pontian Highway (both in Federal Route are the only federal roads paved with concrete. Meanwhile, the section of Federal Highway Route from Subang Jaya to Kota Darul Ehsan is paved with asphalt.
Putrajaya-Cyberjaya Expressway route is the first future federal highway on Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC).
The biggest cloverleaf federal highway interchange in Malaysia is Bulatan Darul Ehsan of Federal Highway route in Shah Alam, Selangor.
While most major airports in Malaysia have only one federal access road for each airport, there are two airports being served by more than one federal roads, namely the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and the Langkawi International Airport. The KLIA is being served by KLIA Expressway route , KLIA Outer Ring Road route , Putrajaya-Cyberjaya Expressway route , Jalan KLIA 1 route and Jalan Masjid KLIA route , while the Langkawi International Airport is being served by Jalan Lapangan Terbang Langkawi 1 route and Jalan Lapangan Terbang Langkawi 2 route .
Langkawi Island and Labuan Island are a main island in Malaysia have a lot of federal roads.
Sarawak is connected to Brunei and Indonesia via its vast federal road networks. However, Sarawak is the only state with missing link in its main federal road trunk, which is at Sungai Pandaruan which separates Sarawak district of Limbang and Brunei district of Temburong. However, there is no missing link between Kuching and Miri, as well as from Brunei district of Temburong to Lawas then up to Tawau in Sabah.
There is one bailey bridge in Sarawak federal trunk road, which is also the narrowest bridge in federal road network system in Malaysia, crossing Batang Merapok at Lawas, Sarawak.
There is one semi tunnel on the East-West Highway (Route ) from Gerik, Perak to Jeli, Kelantan. It is probably the only one of its type in Malaysia.

List of federal roads

See also "List of Federal Roads in Malaysia"

For expressways and highways, see also "List of Expressways and Highways in Malaysia"

Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Malaysian Federal Roads System

Contents

History