KTM Distribution (Kiriman Ekspres) Delivery to Singapore

KTM Distribution (Kiriman Ekspres) was established in 1984, originally operating mainly using Parcel Vans (PVs) attached on various KTM Intercity trains for station-to-station transport, but has now been transformed into pretty much a regular delivery company operating throughout Malaysia (yes, including East Malaysia), and still keeping Singapore in their network, although one-way only.

While I’ve seen and walked through the Kiriman Ekspres office at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station multiple times regularly when the station was still in operation, since it was the shortcut to and from the bus stop, I pretty much had no need for their delivery service with my regular trips to Malaysia. But thanks to COVID-19, I had to get my Malaysian shopping in to Singapore somehow, so what better time to try out KTM Distribution than now?

My friend had been keeping my one year’s worth of shopping with him, and it’s finally time to send it over to Singapore since I’m unsure when I’ll ever be able to travel to Malaysia again. (I thought it was going to be in June last year, how naïve of me.)

The nearest KTM Distribution office for him was in Kajang, so that’s where my parcel’s journey starts.

KTM Distribution Kajang Office

Address: A29-G Jalan TKS1 Taman Kajang Sentral, 43000 Kajang

Like all good Malaysian places, check-in via MySejahtera before entering the office.

Sending my parcel from KTM Distribution Kajang Office

The layout of the KTM Distribution Kajang Office was simple and straightforward.

The first step is weighing my parcel.

KTM Distribution Delivery Rates from Malaysia to Singapore

Each parcel up to 5kg: RM33
Customs Permit: RM50
Each additional kg: RM2.80

If your parcel is light, KTM Distribution will use volumetric weight instead.

Volumetric weight = (Length x breadth x height in cm) / 5000

There is unfortunately no station-to-station option in Singapore, only station-to-doorstep.

My parcel weighs 7.35kg, which like all courier companies, will be rounded up to the next highest step. In KTM Distribution’s case, each step is 1kg but it’s really cheap at RM2.80 per kg, so I didn’t bother trying to stuff an additional 650 grams of more shopping to make my money’s worth.

Concurrently, fill up this delivery form which will be used throughout the delivery process.

My delivery charge from Malaysia to Singapore for an 8kg parcel with KTM Distribution costs RM91.40.

(First 5kg RM33 + Customs Permit RM50 + additional 3kg RM8.40 = Total RM91.40)

An additional step compared with other courier companies, KTM Distribution requires an invoice for the recipient to be submitted, so do take note, even if you are sending personal items.

Now I wait for the magic to happen.

KTM Distribution Tracking

Tracking is available on KTM Distribution’s website.

My parcel left Kajang pretty fast on the same day to be sent over to KTMD’s hub at U5 Shah Alam.

Yep, you read that right. KTMD does not use Kuala Lumpur Railway Station as its hub any more since there’s no PVs to use on trains. Instead, it operates as a traditional courier company with a traditional warehouse. That’s simply because KTMD uses one of these to transport goods now.

Not the parcel van you were thinking off.

Next, my parcel was sent to Johor Bahru. In this case, it’s probably KTM Distribution’s office for further transfers.

KTM Distribution Johor Bahru Office

Address: Stesen Keretapi Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru Sentral, Jalan Tun Razak, 80000 Johor Bahru

Ah, a familiar place. Glad to know that there’s still somewhat a railway element in this process.

Receiving my parcel at home

What followed was 4 nights of silence. Apparently my parcel has been in Singapore and dispatched out since 19 February 2021, but it was only on 24 February 2021 at noon time did I receive a call from the courier guy with my parcel with no one at home.

After I told him to leave my parcel at the door, I was told that I needed to pay S$3.10 in GST. Hmm…

No receipts aside from the forwarding agency’s, but I paid anyway since I don’t think S$3.10 could be a scam. Plus, the amount matches up with my invoice.

Singapore GST is probably why KTM Distribution needed the invoice. But still, it’s strange since other couriers wouldn’t need it for a personal delivery.

I got to my parcel after work. Finally, a year’s worth of Malaysian shopping received.

My first impression? Plus points for KTM Distribution to spam their own fragile stickers on my parcel after receiving it. This was not pasted on by my friend before sending it in.

On the flipside, in sunny Singapore, Singapore Post confirms that it’s useless to write ‘Fragile’ or ‘Do not bend’ because Singapore Post will not care.

My receiver copy of the bill filled up in Kajang.

The invoice for my outstanding GST from KTMD’s forwarder, Ateh Agency. KTM Distribution does not handle their Singapore service directly.

My parcel came very well in tact even with fragile items in it. Even the paper wrapping around the box survived reasonably well.

Like what I mentioned in the Rail Boutique KTMB Shopee Singapore article, here’s my Rail Boutique KTMB shopping (thankfully in RM) which were all stuck in Malaysia before this delivery, now actually shipped by KTM Distribution rather than PosLaju.

I’m pretty sure that the KTM Distribution tracking was all manually clicked by KTM Distribution staff rather than being at actual live times. While the tracking says my parcel got to Singapore on 19 February 2021 and is dispatched for delivery, the GST receipt from Ateh Agency says otherwise, dating it as 22 February 2021.

What I think happened is that KTMD in JB clicked through all the details since the parcel was handed over to Ateh Agency to forward it to Singapore, since Ateh Agency is unlikely to have access to KTMD’s system.

In fact, a day after receiving my parcel, the KTM Distribution tracking still reflects the same thing, without updating that I have received it yet.

Conclusion

KTM Distribution (Kiriman Ekspres) is probably not the top of mind for anyone wanting to send stuff from Malaysia to Singapore. However, they’ve managed to get my parcel in tact from Kajang to my doorstep in Singapore in 8 actual days at a low price of RM91.40 + S$3.10. This is probably the lowest price available in the market, though I’d be happy to be proven wrong and try out your recommended company instead.

In comparison, this same parcel of 7.5kg will cost RM150.90 if I use J&T Express, a popular Malaysian courier company.

Personally, KTM Distribution does its job pretty well, even though the tracking is totally off from JB onwards, and I foresee myself using them again to send stuff over to Singapore if borders remain closed so I can still have the luxury to do my non-perishable shopping in Malaysia virtually.