Road signs in Malaysia
Road signs in Malaysia are standardised road signs similar to those used in Europe but with certain distinctions. Until the early 1980s, Malaysia closely followed Australian, Irish and Japanese practice in road sign design, with diamond-shaped warning signs and circular restrictive signs to regulate traffic. Signs usually use the FHWA Series fonts (Highway Gothic) typeface also used in the United States, Canada, and Australia, as well as New Zealand, although some signs on recently completed expressways use Transport Heavy (cf. the second image shown to the right). However, the new format signs use a font specially designed for the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM). The font is called LLM Lettering. It has two type of typefaces, LLM Narrow and LLM Normal.

Malaysian traffic signs use Bahasa Malaysia (Malay), the official and national language in Malaysia. However, English is also used for important public places such as tourist attractions, airports, railway stations and immigration checkpoints. Both Malay and English are used in the road signs that are located along the Pengerang Highway (Federal Route ), which links Kota Tinggi to Sungai Rengit in Johor state and Genting Sempah-Genting Highlands Highway which links Genting Sempah to Genting Highlands, which also have Chinese and Tamil on signs.
There are four major types of road signs in Malaysia. First is Warning Signs (Tanda Amaran), second is Prohibition Signs (Tanda Larangan), third is Mandatory Signs (Tanda Wajib) and fourth is Information Signs (Tanda Maklumat).[1]
According to the road category under 333 Act, the Malaysian Road Transport Act 1987, chapter 67, blue traffic signs are used for federal, state and municipal roads. Green signs are used for toll expressways or highways only.
Route numbers
Expressway
Expressways use letters E-- (Example: )
Examples | Information | Number digits |
---|---|---|
![]() ![]() | Expressway route numbers | E01 – E99 |
EXIT 253 EXIT 1108 | Expressway exit numbers | EXIT 201 – EXIT 299 EXIT 1101 – 1199 |
Federal
Federal Roads only use numbers and digits, for example Federal Route 1 (Example: ). However, federal road numbers can also be added with the FT— prefix before the route number, which is normally used by the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) and the Royal Malaysia Police. For example, Federal Route 1 can also be written as Federal Route FT1.[2] There are also service roads off of main federal roads that use letters after its main route (Example:
).
Examples | Information | Number digits |
---|---|---|
![]() ![]() ![]() | Main federal route numbers | 001–249 |
![]() ![]() | Institutional facilities federal roads | 250–479 |
EXIT 1 EXIT 226 | Federal road exit numbers | EXIT 1 – EXIT 99 EXIT 201 – 299 |
![]() ![]() ![]() | Main federal route numbers (Sarawak) | 1-1 – 1–59 4-1 – 4–99 1000 – 9999 |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 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 |
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Service road numbers | --A – --Z |
State
State roads use letters that correspond to each state. (refer here for state letter codes/plate numbers)
Examples | Information | Number digits |
---|---|---|
![]() | Johor state route numbers | J001 – J999 |
![]() | Selangor state route numbers | B001 – B999 |
![]() | Negeri Sembilan state route numbers | N001 – N999 |
![]() | Sabah state route numbers | SA001 – SA999 |
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Perak state route numbers | A001 - A999 |
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Pahang state route numbers | C001 - C999 |
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Kelantan state route numbers | D001 - D999 |
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Kedah state route numbers | K001 - K999 |
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Melaka state route numbers | M001 - M999 |
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Pulau Pinang state route numbers | P001 - P999 |
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Terengganu state route numbers | T001 - T999 |
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Perlis state route numbers | P001 - P999 |
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Sarawak state route numbers | Q001 - Q999
Q1000 - Q9999 |
- Federal roads route code shield
- State roads route code shield
- Expressway (toll road) route code shield
- Service road route code shield
- Local authority route code shield
Road signs
Prohibitory signs
Malaysian prohibitory signs are round with white backgrounds, red borders, and black pictograms. The exceptions are the stop sign and the give way sign.
- Stop sign
- Left turn not allowed
- Right turn not allowed
- U-turn turn not allowed
- No entry
- Vehicles exceeding 8 tonnes prohibited
- Height limit 5 metres
- No motorbikes allowed
- No trucks allowed
- Speed limit ends
- No parking or waiting
- Stopping not allowed
- No use of the vehicle horn
- Give way
- Width limit 3.5 metres
- Mandatory stop, children crossing
- No slow moving vehicles
- No overtaking
- No overtaking for heavy vehicles
- Heavy vehicles prohibited in the right lane
- No hawking
- No Stopping except in an emergency
- Height limit gantry
Mandatory signs
Mandatory instruction signs are round with blue backgrounds and white pictogram.
- Follow arrow direction (left)
- Follow arrow direction (right)
- Follow arrow direction (go straight)
- Follow arrow direction (go straight or turn left)
- Follow arrow direction (go straight or turn right)
- Bicycle lane
- Tricycle lane
- Motorbike lane
- Pass onto the left
- Pass onto the right
- Pass onto either side
- Motorbike lane on the left
- Bicycle lane (Rectangular)[3]
Speed limit signs
- Speed limit
- Speed limit ends
- Speed limit
- Speed limit zone
- Speed limit reminder
- National speed limit reminder
- Malaysia speed limit at border crossing (Type 1)
- Malaysia speed limit at border crossing (Type 2)
- School zone speed limit
Warning signs
Malaysian warning signs are diamond-shaped and are yellow and black in colour.
- Crossroad, 4-way junction ahead
- Railroad crossing ahead with barrier
- Steep descend
- Steep climb
- Bend to the right
- Bend to the left
- Winding road
- Danger ahead
- Stop ahead
- Give way sign ahead
- Road narrows on both sides ahead
- Road narrows ahead from the left
- Road narrows ahead from the right
- Traffic light ahead
- Obstruction
- Staggered junctions ahead, first on the right
- Staggered junctions ahead, first on the left
- Staggered junctions ahead, no entry on first right junction
- Staggered junctions ahead, no entry on first left junction
- Staggered junctions ahead, no entry on second right junction
- Staggered junctions ahead, no entry on second left junction
- Staggered junctions ahead, first on the right
- Staggered junctions ahead, no entry
- T-junction ahead
- Side road junction ahead on the right
- Side road junction ahead on the left
- Merging traffic ahead on the right
- Merging traffic ahead on the left
- Danger of falling rocks or landslides ahead
- Danger of falling rocks or landslides ahead
- Roundabout ahead
- Climbling lane
- Climbing lane on opposite direction
- Disabled pedestrian crossing ahead
- Narrow bridge ahead
- Diverge
- Two-way traffic ahead
- Chevron to the left
- Chevron to the right
- Exit to the left
- Exit to the right
- Y-shaped road intersection
- Double bend To the Left
- Double bend To the Right
- Spiral loop
- Divided road begins
- Divided road ends
- Uneven road
- Drawbridge
- Slippery road
- Level crossing without barrier ahead
- Road hump
- Animals crossing area
- Wild animal crossing area
- Crosswind area
- Playground area
- Pedestrian crossing for blind people ahead
- Pedestrian crossing
- School pedestrian crossing
- Elderly pedestrian crossing ahead
- Towing zone
- Obstacles
- Junction sign, turn right or left
- Caution! Accident Area sign
- Fog area warning sign, limited visibility - switch on headlamps sign
- Use left lane unless overtaking
- Use left lane if not overtaking
- Reduce speed
- Reduce speed sign, with speed limit
- Heavy vehicles use left lane
- Speed trap camera (AES) enforcement zone
- Slope supervision zone
- Use low gear
- Crosswind area 500 meters ahead
- High voltage area ahead (Option 1, used for electrical substation)
- High voltage lines ahead (Option 2, used for electrified level crossing, with maximum height limit plate)
- Heavy vehicles, please use two leftmost lanes
- Residential area warning sign (usually found in Klang Valley)
Construction/Temporary signs
The construction signs in Malaysia are diamond-shaped and are orange and black in colour.
- Left lane closed ahead
- Centre lane closed ahead
- Right lane closed ahead
- Danger ahead
- Bend to the left
- Bend to the Right
- Road narrows ahead from the left
- Road narrows ahead from the right
- Diverge
- Chevron to the left
- Chevron to the Right
- Construction Ahead sign within 500 m
- Caution works ahead
- Caution construction works ahead
- Roadworks Ahead
- Road Work sign with 200m
- Caution, Reduce Speed
- Construction site drive slowly
- Sorry for inconvenience caused
- Your cooperation and patience is very appreciated
- Traffic blockage is only temporary
- Caution heavy vehicles entering and exiting construction zone ahead
- Caution heavy vehicles entering and exiting construction zone ahead, with distance
- Temporary speed limit sign
- Flagman ahead
- Flagman sign with 200m
- Pass onto the left
- Pass onto the right
- Detour ahead
- Detour, follow arrow
- Detour to the left sign
- Detour to the right sign
- One lane road ahead
- Temporary narrow roads on the left sign
- Temporary narrow roads on the right sign
- Right lane closed
- Right lane closed sign
- Left lane closed
- Left lane closed sign
- Centre lane closed sign
- End of construction
Guide signs
Malaysian information signs are blue.
- First aid/hospital sign (Option 1)
- Hospital sign (Option 2)
- Dead end road
- U-turn
- One way street
- Layby logo
- Rest and Service Area (found at toll expressways)
- Rest and Service Area (found at no-tolled highways/major trunk roads)
- Bus Stop
- Truck stop
- Restaurant
- Fruit stall
- Disabled (OKU) parking
- Toilet
- Petrol Station
- Surau / Mosque
- Jetty
- Pier
- Emergency Telephone
- Parking
- Wakaf (hut)
- Information Centre
- Repair shop
- ATM
- Touch 'n Go purchase and reload facilities
- Money Changer
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Airport
Old format
- First aid
- Hospital
- Old rest and service area logo (usually found at major trunk roads)
- Old rest and service area logo (usually found at majortrunk roads)
Motorcycle lane
Malaysian motorcycle lane signs are blue.
- Motorcycle lane entrance
- Motorcycle lane gantry sign
- Motorcycle lane directions sign
- Rain shelter for motorcycles, 200 meters ahead
- Rain shelter for motorcycles pull-in
Tolled Expressway and Highway signs
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Malaysian toll expressway and highway signs are green and are only suitable for toll expressways and highways managed by Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).
- JKR hexagon-shaped highway shield with expressway/highway code signs are black and yellow.
- Green with white signs for major destinations.
- Symbol of the Malaysian Expressways
- Direction to expressway with expressway name
- Direction to expressway
- To expressway direction
- Entrance to the toll expressway from non-tolled highway
- White with black letters signs for expressway names of closed toll systems
- Yellow with black letters signs for expressway names of opened toll systems
- Start of Expressway
- Start of expressway with name of expressway
- Expressway maintenance border limit (Option 1)
- Expressway maintenance border limit (Option 2)
- Expressway maintenance border limit (Option 3)
- Malaysian expressway shield with highway concessionaire logo and highway hotline number
- Driver location signs kilometer markers
- Driver location signs hectometer markers
- Driver location signs interchange hectometer markers
- This expressway accepts electronic toll collections (ETC) only
- This toll plaza accepts Electronic Toll Collections (ETC) only (Note: Batu Tiga Toll Plaza was demolished in 2017)
- Toll plaza ahead in 500 meters with its name
- Keep your lane
- Toll fare rates list
- Toll rates rates list (electronic toll collection (ETC) only)
- Motocycle entry lane on expressway signs
- Touch 'n Go lane
- Touch 'n Go reload lane
- SmartTAG lane
- RFID sign
- Customer Service Centre sign, usually found at toll plaza
- Expressway distance sign
- Expressway distance sign with Asian Highway route shield
- Emergency signs with SOS logo
- Emergency SOS sign with highway hotline number
- SOS nearby signs, usually found at road barrier
- Shelter for motorcycles, 200 meters away
- Shelter for motorcycles on the left
- Layby and Rest and Service Area distance sign
- Rest and Service area 1 kilometer away
- R&R entry
- Overhead Bridge Restaurant (OBR) entry sign
- Next R&R signs, usually found after R&R
- Layby sign
- Layby entry
- Next layby signs, usually found after Layby
- Next Layby/R&R signs, usually found near the entrance of Layby/R&R.
- Direction to Vista Point
- Vista Point sign
- Tunnel 500 meters ahead
- Tunnel ahead, please turn on headlights
- Penang Bridge logo
- Next interchange exit sign
- Name of interchange including exit signs (Usually found on expressways in urban areas)
- Exit 2 kilometers away
- Exit 1 kilometer away
- Exit 500 meters away
- Expressway tourist exit sign
- Gantry signs:- Exit approaching
- Exit to the left sign
- Gantry sign:- Expressway interchange 2 kilometers away
- Gantry sign:- Expressway interchange 1 kilometer away
- Gantry sign:- Expressway interchange 500 meters away
- Gantry sign:- Expressway interchange 250 meters away
- Gantry exit signs
- Direction lanes
- End of Expressway
- End of expressway with name of expressway
Old format
- Old interchange sign
- Old interchange sign with exit number
- Old next parking and rest and service area signs
- Old next parking and rest service area signs (Note: Gua Tempurung between Sungai Perak & Simpang Pulai Lay-By did not exist anymore because it was destroyed in 1996 after a landslide incident)
- Please take a transit ticket sign (Note: transit ticket systems are no longer used on closed toll expressways)
- Please take a transit card sign (Note: transit ticket systems are no longer used on closed toll expressways)
Non-tolled Federal, State and Municipal Roads
Malaysian road signs are blue and used for federal, state and municipal roads.
- Blue with white letters signs for major destinations
- Maroon with white letters signs for recreational places/tourist spot
- Blue with yellow letters signs for street names
- White with green letters signs for spesific places/buildings
- Green with yellow letters signs for government buildings/institution
- White with blue letters signs for residential area
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- Highway interchange directional sign with exit number
- 4-way intersection directional sign with exit number
- 3-way intersection directional signs ahead
- 3-way intersection directional sign with exit number (1000 metres)
- 3-way intersection directional sign with exit number (500 metres)
- 3-way intersection directional sign with exit number (100 metres)
- 3-way intersection directional sign including institution facilities with exit number (100 metres)
- 3-way intersection exit sign
- Route number direction sign
- 4-way roundabout directional sign with exit number
- Federal Road distance sign with road name
- Federal Road distance sign with road name and other major road
- Federal Road distance sign with road name and tourist destination
- Federal Road distance sign with road name and route to expressway
- Federal Road distance sign with road name and Asian Highway route shield
- Federal Road distance sign with Asian Highway route shield
- Primary milestones
- Secondary milestones
- Name of roads - gantry sign
- Federal Route gantry sign
- Airport gantry sign
- Gantry sign towards SMART tunnel
- 4-way intersection directions to town centre
- White with Black letters for exit signs
- Road name signs with route shield (local authority)
- Road name signs with route shield (JKR federal routes)
- Kilometre markers for federal roads, usually found on non-tolled highways
- Hectometre markers for federal roads, usually found on non-tolled highways
- Emergency phone in 250 metres sign on federal roads, mostly found on non-tolled highways and main roads
Old format
- Exit to next destinations (usually for highways)
- Intersection to next destinations (usually for trunk roads)
- 4-way intersection directions
- 4-way roundabout directions
- Places distance
Asian Highway route signs
As part of the Asian Highway Network.
- Asian Highway route shield
- Expressway distance sign with Asian Highway route shield
- Federal Road distance sign with Asian Highway route shield
- Federal Road distance sign with road name and Asian Highway route shield
Border signs
Border signs in Malaysia are green for international and state and blue for district.
International border signs
- International border signboard
State border signs
- Selangor state border signboard
- Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur border signboard
District border signs
- Hulu Selangor district border signboard with JKR logo
- Petaling police district border signboard with Royal Malaysia Police logo.
- Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) Maintenance Border Limit (Starts here)
- Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) Maintenance Border Limit (Ends here)
Important signs
These are other important signs in Malaysia such as government institutions and tourist destinations.
- White with black letters for towns and other settlements.
- Green with orange letters for government institutions.
- White with green letters and Maroon with white letters for tourist destinations.
- Entering town and settlements signs
- Government institutions (option 1)
- Government institutions (option 2)
- Tourist destinations (option 1)
- Tourist destinations (option 2)
- Industrial area direction sign
- Hospital direction sign
- Hotel direction sign
- Commercial centre direction sign
- University direction sign
- Golf course direction sign
- Townships direction sign
- Housing estate/neighbourhood sign
- Public transportation name signs
- Tourist spot by 500 m signs
- Tourist spot signs
Tourist spot signs
Malaysian tourist spot signs are maroon.
Weighing bridge signs
There is also a signs for weighing bridge.
- Entry to Weighing bridge
- Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) Enforcement Station entry sign
- Weighing bridge symbol
Road name sign
Road name sign in Malaysia have many different colours and styles according the local authority to design with them.
- Blue with orange letters for road names. This signs usually found at Kuala Lumpur.
- Blue with orange letters for road names with highway shield.
- A bilingual (Malay/Chinese) road sign in George Town, Penang which is under the authority of the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
- A dual language (Malay/Chinese) road sign in Kuching, Sarawak under the authority of the Kuching South City Council (MBKS).
Road markings
Road markings in Malaysia primarily use thermoplastic and are white. Yellow markings are usually for road shoulders, construction or temporary markings and parking.[4]
Construction/temporary road markings are similar but in yellow.
Centre lines
Centre lines divide the road into either direction.
- Standard road centre line on urban and residential roads.
- Standard road centre line on federal roads.
- Strictly no overtaking center line.
- Overtaking is allowed with caution centre line, opposite direction cannot overtake.
- Overtaking not allowed, only opposite direction can overtake centre line.
Edge lines
Edge lines are located at the edges of a road, whether there is a median or pavement or not.
- Standard roadside edge line.
- No parking on roadside edge line.
- Opening on roadside edge line (building entrances, etc.)
- Strictly no parking or stopping on roadside edge line
Lane dividers
Lane dividers divide road into lanes according to its designated width.
- Standard lane divider on highways (JKR R5) and urban/residential roads.
- Standard lane divider on highways (JKR R6) and federal roads.
- Overtaking and changing lanes not encouraged lane divider.
Directional markings
Directional marking consists of arrows and lettering on the road.
- Straight arrow
- Straight or turn left arrow
- Straight or turn right arrow
- Turn left arrow
- Turn right arrow
- Turn left or right arrow
- Straight or turn left or right arrow
- U-Turn arrow
- Junction direction lettering with arrow (Option 1)
- Junction direction lettering with arrow and route code (Option 2)
Other type road markings
- AWAS (Caution) lettering
- PERLAHAN (slow down) lettering
- Bus lane divider
- Bus stop
- Taxi stand
- Give way
- Transverse rumble strip (usually placed before junctions, toll plaza or high density areas)
- Shoulder rumble strips (usually placed on highways at very hazardous areas)
- Touch n Go marker (at toll plazas)
- SmartTAG marker (at toll plazas)
- RFIDTag (also known as MyRFID) marker (at toll plazas)
Miscellaneous
Bridge-related signs
These signs usually found at the bridge.
- Bridge numbers.
River signs
These signs usually found at the bridge.
- River sign with Department of Irrigation and Drainage (Jabatan Pengairan Dan Saliran) logo
- River sign (option 1)
- River sign (option 2)
Highway concessionaires border limit
Many expressways/highways has a border limit.
Traffic Light codes
Many traffic lights have codes in them.
Kuala Lumpur
- A normal traffic light code in Kuala Lumpur.
- An old traffic light code in Kuala Lumpur.
- An old criss-cross section with traffic lights that is no longer used.
Gallery
- Malaysian expressway exit signs.
- A direction signboard on Federal Route 3 in Terengganu.
- A typical road sign in Kuala Lumpur, with yellow letters for major thoroughfares and green letters on white background for parks and locations of interests. Smaller signs below it show directions for pedestrians and tourists.
- A typical crosswalk traffic signal in Kuala Lumpur with a countdown display and a crosswalk sign above it.
- A road sign near Jalan Yam Tuan, Seremban with yellow letters for major roads and green letters on green signs for hospitals and white on green signs for expressways.
- A Federal Route code sign, placed at pole along the road.
- National Speed Limit signboard on Malaysian federal roads.
- Common state road signboard which is similar to the signboards on federal roads.
- Some road signs in Malaysia are in English, such as this one near Jalan Beringin in Damansara Town Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
- Drawbridge sign in Terengganu
- MyRFID toll booth lane at Gombak Toll Plaza
- A bunch of Malaysian road signs on
Seremban–Bukit Nenas Highway
See also
References
- Drive in Malaysia
-
Maklumat Mengenai Papan Tanda Arah, Destinasi dan Nombor Laluan Jalan Raya Malaysia Archived 19 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia. Retrieved on 23 August 2008.
- "Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur". July 2018.
- "JKR Road Marking & Delineation". dokumen.tips. Retrieved 18 March 2022.