By: Mike Paul
KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — Seventeen major roads and highways across the capital and Putrajaya will face temporary closures from 15 to 17 April 2025, as Malaysia hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping on an official state visit expected to reinforce half a century of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The large-scale traffic reroute — one of the most extensive in recent years for a visiting head of state — is being enforced by the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) to ensure the secure and smooth passage of Xi Jinping and his delegation throughout the three-day visit.
“This operation involves 378 police officers and personnel, who will be deployed to escort the delegation, manage traffic, and ensure overall security throughout the visit,” said Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, Director of JSPT.
The affected roads include high-capacity highways such as the ELITE, MEX, SUKE, NPE, and KESAS expressways, as well as the SMART Tunnel and Jalan KL-Seremban. In Putrajaya, strategic federal routes like Persiaran Selatan, Lebuh Gemilang, Jalan P5, Lingkaran Putrajaya, and the Putrajaya-Dengkil Expressway will also be closed in phases.
Closures are scheduled as follows:
15 April: From 6:00pm onwards (KLIA to Jalan P5, Putrajaya)
16 April: At 9:30am, 12:30pm, 4:10pm and 6.30pm respectively
17 April: From 8:50am (Putrajaya to KLIA)
Each closure is expected to last between 30 and 45 minutes depending on the movement of the delegation.
Mohd Yusri urged motorists to plan ahead and cooperate fully with traffic authorities:
“JSPT strongly advises the public to obey all instructions issued during this period, for the safety of both the visiting dignitaries and our road users.”
President Xi’s visit marks a significant milestone as Malaysia and China celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations — a symbol of long-standing strategic partnership in Southeast Asia amid evolving global geopolitical tides.
The public is encouraged to monitor traffic updates closely and allow additional travel time, especially during peak hours, as delays are expected across multiple arteries of Klang Valley and administrative Putrajaya.
- TNS News