Malaysia Has 4.6 Million More Vehicles Than People

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Zahid, who also serves as the Rural and Regional Development Minister, shared the revelation in a Facebook post yesterday, 13 May, following a meeting with Prasarana Malaysia Berhad president Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah at his office in Putrajaya.

In the statement, Zahid disclosed that the number of registered vehicles in the country has reached 38.7 million, surpassing the population of 34.1 million.

This sharp increase is driven in part by a record-breaking total industry volume (TIV) of new vehicle sales, which hit 816,747 units in 2024 — the highest in the nation's history.

"This transformation requires a shift in attitude that can only be achieved through a combination of a reliable public transport system and a comprehensive awareness campaign," he stressed.

Zahid said the high number of vehicles on the roads not only burdens existing infrastructure but also increases road safety risks and negatively impacts people's quality of life.

"I am confident that with the continuous efforts of agencies such as Prasarana, and the cooperation of all stakeholders, we can shape a future for the country's public transportation that is more people-friendly, sustainable, and efficient," he said.

This is not the first time the issue has come under the spotlight.

In December 2023, Transport Minister Anthony Loke told the Dewan Negara that the number of registered vehicles stood at 36.3 million, already exceeding the population of 32.4 million at the time, reported the New Straits Times.