Experts say WFH can ease rush-hour traffic but fails to address the region’s deep-rooted structural reliance on private vehicles.
PETALING JAYA: Work-from-home (WFH) may ease rush-hour gridlock and trim fuel usage, but it is no cure for the Klang Valley’s deep-rooted dependence on cars, experts say.
While recent estimates by RimbaWatch suggest that wider adoption of WFH could yield substantial fuel subsidy savings, Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said such gains are likely to be short-lived without structural reforms.
He said WFH could reduce congestion, but largely by relieving pressure during peak commuting hours rather than cutting overall traffic volumes.
“In the Klang Valley, congestion is largely driven by a concentration of commuting activities within a narrow time window.
“Reducing the number of office workers travelling during these periods could improve traffic flow, especially if demand drops below a critical threshold.
“But it does not address all-day congestion as non-work-related trips remain significant.”
Law added that projected fuel savings, including an estimated RM169 million monthly reduction if half the region’s workforce worked remotely, are plausible in the short term.
However, long-term sustainability depends on whether travel behaviour fundamentally changes, rather than simply shifts, he said.
“Some commuting trips may be replaced with other journeys, such as errands, social activities or flexible meetings.
“There is also the possibility of residential decentralisation, in which people choose to live further from the city centre if they do not need to commute daily, which could increase travel distances when they do travel.”
He pointed to Malaysia’s deeply entrenched car-centric culture as a key constraint.
“In the Klang Valley, private vehicles are often preferred due to their reliability, convenience and comfort, especially given weather conditions and limitations in public transport.
“Even with fewer office commutes, people may still rely on cars for midday errands, school runs or leisure activities, offsetting some of the gains from WFH.”
Beyond behavioural factors, Law stressed that WFH does little to address structural weaknesses in the region’s transport system.
He said the Klang Valley’s urban form remains highly dispersed, with housing, jobs and amenities spread across low-density suburbs, making cars a necessity for many.
Gaps in public transport integration also persist, particularly in first and last-mile connectivity, while poor bus reliability and limited priority measures reduce the appeal of alternatives to driving.
“Road pricing and parking policies are insufficient to discourage car use,” he said, describing WFH as a “stopgap measure” rather than a long-term solution.
He added that flexible work arrangements could reshape, rather than reduce, traffic patterns.
“Instead of two peak-hour commutes, individuals may make multiple off-peak trips throughout the day.
“This may ease congestion during rush hours, but overall traffic volume and vehicle travel could remain high.”
In suburban areas where daily amenities are not within walking distance, such patterns could result in more dispersed yet persistent traffic throughout the day.
Law called for a multi-pronged approach that goes beyond temporary fixes.
This includes better integration of public transport systems, expansion of transit-oriented development to bring jobs and housing closer to rail networks, and stronger demand management measures, such as congestion pricing and improved parking controls.
He stressed the need to enhance walkability, cycling infrastructure and mixed-use development to cut reliance on cars for short trips.