DBKL enforcement officers nabbing an illegal parking tout in the city.
A TWO-hour parking limit for downtown Kuala Lumpur along with a crackdown on parking touts are measures in the works to restore order in some of the capital city’s most congested streets.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be amending the bylaw which allowed the same vehicle to be parked (in public parking lots) for extended hours in Zone A (see map).
These moves, to ensure fair access to parking while alleviating the city’s traffic woes, are being pushed forward by Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
“Tackling these issues has been long overdue and introducing a two-hour parking limit is high on our agenda,” said Maimunah.
She said the initiative required amendments to the Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Order 2016.
Maimunah says a two-hour parking limit in downtown KL is high on DBKL’s agenda.
“We need to work closely with the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to revise the regulations, a process that could take time,” she added.
Maimunah said she wanted to see these changes this year.
“My target is April, although my team suggests June as a more feasible time frame,” she said.
The mayor emphasised that DBKL was determined to move the proposal forward swiftly, starting with pilot areas.
“We aim to implement this in stages, focusing on hotspots where the problem is most severe.”
She said that further details, including the timeline for enforcement and areas under consideration, would be revealed in the coming months.
DBKL’s Finance Department oversees all 59,000 street parking bays in Kuala Lumpur.
Currently, parking rates are divided into three zones:
Zone A (City centre areas): RM1.50 for the first hour and RM2.50 for each subsequent hour.
Zone B (Suburban areas with activities): RM1 per hour.
Zone C (Other suburban areas): 80sen per hour.
DBKL Finance director Azlina Mohd Saad said Zone A included areas such as Bukit Bintang, Imbi and Pudu.
“We aim to enforce a maximum two-hour limit so that beyond this period, no further payments can be made (by the same car owner).
“Currently, the system allows individuals to occupy the same bay after a short lapse,” Azlina explained.
“Since appointing four private operators last July, we hope they will provide data to identify the areas most in need of the two-hour cap,” she added.
Zone A is also notorious for illegal parking touts, particularly after 6pm when DBKL’s enforcement efforts taper off.
Touts take advantage of the situation, intimidating motorists into paying extra fees under the pretence of securing parking spaces.
“We are taking immediate steps to deter touts,” said Maimunah.
According to Azlina, Kuala Lumpur’s street parking charges are from 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays and public holidays.
“Street parking is free after 6pm, so anyone demanding payment from motorists after this time is acting illegally. People need to know their rights – there is no obligation to pay these touts,” she said.
Azlina clarified that under the bylaw, DBKL was permitted to impose parking fees between 6pm and 10pm, but the local authority chose not to do so.
“We only charge until 6pm, and this is clearly displayed on signboards.
“We also have enforcement teams patrolling hotspot areas, and many illegal touts have been detained.
“It was previously proposed by a former mayor to introduce a nominal parking fee after 6pm in the city centre to curb illegal touting, suggesting a minimum charge of RM1.
“It is an idea we have discussed and may revisit if touting becomes unmanageable. The public must understand that DBKL is legally authorised to collect parking fees after 6pm, but we have opted not to.
“However, this policy may need to change to address the growing problem of touting,” said Azlina.
Last year, several local councils in Selangor implemented a two-hour parking system or “hot zone” parking in certain sections of busy commercial areas to free up parking spaces on high-traffic streets, particularly those near banks.
The Subang Jaya (MBSJ), Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) and Shah Alam (MBSA) city councils have already adopted the system.
