Major highways congested as Malaysians travel for National Day holiday

Malaysians are facing significant traffic congestion on major highways as they travel for the National Day holiday and school break. Heavy traffic flow has been reported heading north, south, and towards the East Coast, causing extensive delays.

The North-South Expressway (PLUS) is particularly affected. Spokespersons from the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) noted severe congestion from Jawi towards Penang on the northbound PLUS E1. Traffic is also slow-moving from Bukit Lanjan to Rawang, and between Bukit Beruntung and Bukit Tagar. Similar slowdowns are reported from Slim River to Sungkai, Bidor to Tapah, and further to Gopeng.

Congestion is also impacting southbound routes, with heavy traffic noted on PLUS E2 from Nilai Utara to Senawang. On the East Coast routes, bottlenecks include Gombak towards Genting Sempah, Lentang to Bentong, and Sungai Dua to Karak. The Skudai Toll Plaza heading to Kulai is also congested, as are sections from Putra Heights to Gamuda and Putra Heights to Shah Alam.

Authorities reported that traffic congestion began increasing around 7 a.m. due to the surge in vehicles. The situation is expected to persist and potentially worsen throughout the afternoon if the volume of traffic continues to rise. The Menora tunnel area, however, remains clear.

The LLM advises highway users to plan their trips, ensure they are well-rested before driving, and utilize rest and service areas (R&R) if feeling tired. They also urge drivers who must stop in the emergency lane to activate hazard lights and place a safety triangle to warn other road users, prioritizing safety.