DBKL enforcement officers removing a makeshift tent set up on a parking lot.
MOTORISTS visiting Kuala Lumpur’s bustling commercial areas such as Jalan Alor, Pudu, Changkat Bukit Bintang or other parts of the city for dinner or shopping, may not realise that street parking is free after 6pm.
Parking touts have been exploiting this lack of awareness and have been illegally charging drivers.
Operating both day and night, they brazenly commandeer street parking bays and are particularly visible and assertive after 6pm, especially near nightclubs and busy restaurants.
It should be noted that DBKL imposes fees for Kuala Lumpur’s street parking bays from 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays and public holidays, with payment made through designated apps approved by DBKL.
Some businesses in Bukit Bintang area reserving public parking spots, frustrating motorists in KL’s high-traffic zones.
StarMetro recently observed a group of illegal touts blocking public parking bays with orange cones on the inner roads of Bukit Bintang.
Drivers looking to park are required to pay a fee – RM5 during the day and up to RM15 at night. The touts then remove the cones, allowing vehicles to park.
This illegal activity is particularly rampant after office hours when nightlife in Bukit Bintang reaches its peak.
During the day, popular streets like Jalan Alor, Tengkat Tong Shin and Changkat Bukit Bintang are hotspots, where touts capitalise on the scarcity of parking space by extorting money from drivers.
“This has been going on for years, and nothing seems to change,” said Taman Desa resident Jaclyn Chin who frequently visits Jalan Alor.
“These touts are so organised, and it is clear they are not afraid of being caught,” she said.
Illegal bay hogging by shopowners during the day compounds the parking problem, as chairs and other objects block parking spaces in front of businesses.
Many shopowners reserve parking bays in front of their premises by placing chairs or other objects to block access.
This practice, both illegal and inconsiderate in a high-traffic area like Bukit Bintang, is a long-standing source of frustration for visitors and residents, who lament the lack of available parking spaces.
Complaints have poured in from both residents and visitors, with many urging StarMetro to investigate the issue.
Muzammer says enforcement efforts have targeted illegal parking touts, with 145 actions taken so far.
DBKL enforcement
As of 2024, DBKL has issued 348,721 violation notices under the Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Order 2016.
DBKL Enforcement Department director Mohd Muzammer Jamaluddin said enforcement efforts had targeted illegal parking touts, with 145 actions taken to date.
“Of these, 64 cases have been prosecuted while 81 individuals signed pledges (to refrain from repeating the offence),” he said.
He added that DBKL’s patrols were increased due to public complaints, with 219 complaints received last year from the public, 201 submitted via DBKL’s Adu@KL complaint channel and 18 through official letters and email.
Addressing the issue of individuals and businesses reserving public parking spaces, Muzammer said, “We carried out 37 enforcement actions, resulting in the removal of 249 items used to illegally reserve parking bays, such as cones and chairs.”
Since July 2024, DBKL has deployed 90 enforcement officers across 11 parliamentary areas to manage unpaid parking fees and other offences.
These efforts are supported by private parking operators.
DBKL’s Enforcement Department has established a special task force to tackle illegal parking touts through daily patrols, public complaint monitoring, and special operations such as “Ops Jaga.”
Offenders are prosecuted under Section 50(3) of the Road Transport Act 1987, with penalties outlined under Section 119(2).
“First-time offenders may be fined up to RM2,000 or face six months’ imprisonment.
“Repeat offenders face even stiffer penalties,” said Muzammer.
“DBKL also conducts regular patrols at identified hotspots, including Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Jalan Beremi, Jalan Alor and Jalan Masjid India.
“Offenders who reserve public parking spaces are dealt with under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
“Our aim is to ensure public parking bays remain accessible to everyone,” he said.
Car jockey
DBKL also acknowledged the misuse of street parking spaces by some licensed parking jockey services.
“Currently, there are 11 licensed jockey services operating in the city, but they are only permitted to park vehicles inside buildings. Misusing street parking spaces is not allowed,” Muzammer stressed.
Wheel clamping remains a key enforcement measure, especially in commercial and city centre areas. In 2023, 206 vehicles were clamped, a number that rose to 1,273 in 2024.Leveraging technology
“We have six personnel working in three shifts at the Kuala Lumpur Command and Control Centre to monitor illegal parking activities via CCTV,” said Muzammer.
Currently, 123 CCTV cameras cover major streets including Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Pudu and Jalan Sultan Ismail.
“We plan to increase CCTV coverage as the situation evolves,” Muzammer added. — By BAVANI M
