prasarana

Prasarana is a Malay word meaning infrastructure or public transport facilities; it is derived from Sanskrit. In contemporary Malay usage, it commonly refers to the physical and organizational systems that support public life, especially transportation networks. In Malaysia, Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, commonly referred to simply as Prasarana, is a government-owned company established to plan, coordinate, finance, develop, operate and maintain the country's public transport infrastructure and services. It falls under the purview of the Ministry of Finance and serves as the asset owner and strategic manager of major urban transit systems. Through its subsidiaries, Prasarana oversees operations and branding of public transport in various regions, including Rapid KL for Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley, and Rapid Penang for Penang. The group also manages major rail and bus assets, aiming to integrate schedules, fares, and service quality across modes and jurisdictions. Since its creation in the early 2000s, Prasarana has overseen expansions such as the introduction of new rail lines and the modernization of fleets, while facing challenges common to large urban systems, including funding, maintenance, and coordination among agencies. The term and the organization together reflect Malaysia's emphasis on expanding and coordinating public transport to reduce reliance on private vehicles and to improve urban mobility.