Cover image via Anthony Loke
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Prasarana Malaysia Berhad subsidiary Rapid Bus will acquire up to 1,600 electric buses between 2026 and 2031 as part of a large-scale plan to modernise Malaysia's public transport system and cut carbon emissions
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook stated that the procurement aligns with the federal government's push for greener and more sustainable mobility solutions nationwide, reported the New Straits Times.
"In the first phase, 250 electric buses will be procured, with phased deliveries scheduled from March 2026 to March 2027.
"Of this total, 175 units will be allocated to Rapid KL, while 75 units will be deployed under Rapid Penang, with operations in Penang expected to begin in May 2026," he told reporters after inspecting Rapid Penang's new diesel bus fleet today, 12 January.
Loke said electric buses come at a significantly higher cost than conventional diesel units, with each bus estimated to cost between RM1.2 million and RM1.5 million
The shift supports Malaysia's commitments under the Paris Agreement, where the country has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity by 45% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
However, Loke said the government has yet to disclose the total allocation for the procurement, as several tenders are still being finalised.
"The government wants to ensure the best value for money. That is why the total allocation will only be announced once the procurement process is finalised," Loke said.
He added that Rapid Penang currently operates 310 buses, many of which have been in service for more than a decade and are due for replacement.
"Rapid Penang has begun its fleet replacement programme this year with the acquisition of 70 new diesel buses, which will be the final batch of diesel buses before the transition to a fully electric fleet," he said.
"Following this final diesel batch, all subsequent replacements for Rapid Penang will focus entirely on electric buses, with a target of 240 EV units to be rolled out in two procurement phases by 2027."
