Maimunah (left) responding to questions from residents during the dialogue session in Setiawangsa. — Photos: AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star and courtesy photos
DBKL dialogue session gives residents chance to highlight issues and propose solutions
TRAFFIC congestion and lack of parking in Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur, are worsening as more high-rise projects take root and draw more residents into the constituency.
Located within 10km of the city’s Golden Triangle, the area has experienced rapid development, driven by its strategic location and accessibility.
ALSO READ: Residents call for transparency in Bukit Dinding development plan
Besides being served by Setiawangsa-Pantai Expressway, Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) and Setiawangsa LRT station, the area is also set to benefit from a proposed MRT3 station, which will further enhance connectivity for residents.
Setiawangsa residents want DBKL to address the issue of food trucks occupying parking bays along Jalan Setiawangsa 8.
Currently though, vehicles are parked along roads in residential areas throughout the day, worsening congestion.
These issues are among a handful raised during “Dialog Bandar Raya 2025” townhall by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) at Setiawangsa Community Centre.
Initiated this year, the dialogue session is being held at all 11 parliamentary constituencies in Kuala Lumpur for residents to highlight issues and get feedback.
In the Setiawangsa session, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad fielded questions from attendees.
Parking, traffic mess
Bukit Setiawangsa Residents Association (RA) chairman Ahmad Shukri Abd Shukor said DBKL should require developers to provide sufficient parking bays for all new projects.
“I have been living in Setiawangsa since the 1990s. Since then, there has been a spike in the number of development projects and vehicles.
“By right, developers must provide enough parking and DBKL should impose a levy on those failing to comply,” he said.
Under DBKL’s Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Carpark 2024 Guideline, developers are required to allocate adequate parking bays for their projects.
The number of bays is calculated based on the project’s total floor size, location and development types, among other factors.
Abd Rahman suggests DBKL build more multistorey parking.
Menara Seri Jati RA chairman Abd Rahman Abd Kadir suggested City Hall build more multistorey carparks.
“DBKL needs to identify vacant lands – there are plenty in the Setiawangsa constituency – where such facilities can be built,” he said.
Another issue raised was traffic congestion along Jalan Setiawangsa 8, where a retail chain store and a police station are located, in Taman Setiawangsa.
Several residents were upset about hawkers and food trucks occupying parking bays.
Due to insufficient parking bays in the Setiawangsa commercial area, motorists are taking up parts of Jalan Bukit Setiawangsa.
The problem has continued despite repeated enforcement efforts by DBKL.
In Bukit Wangsamas, apart from worsening traffic, residents are also grappling with abandoned cars parked along roads.
“Illegal parking is also common, adding to the congestion,” said Bukit Wangsamas RA chairman Alexander Yap.
Secondary concerns
Although DUKE and the Setiawangsa LRT help ease traffic, some residents remain unhappy with the noise they generate.
Bukit Setiawangsa RA committee member Inci Anggie Narina Syafruddin said homeowners were uneasy with the din of the expressway, which kept them up at night.
A consultant hired in 2022, she said, found that noise levels in the area consistently passed 80 decibels (db) – exceeding the permitted threshold of 60db to 65db for residential estates.
“A letter was sent to several authorities, including DBKL and the Environment Department (DOE), on the matter.
Inci Anggie: Homeowners uneasy with DUKE noise.
“We received a response from DOE stating that there was basis to our concerns, but there has been no further action,” she said.
Bukit Wangsamas residents are upset with noise coming from the LRT line between Setiawangsa and Sri Rampai.
Yap said a complaint had been filed with RapidKL, which had promised to look into the matter.
Yap: Residents grappling with cars abandoned along roads.
RapidKL, in a response to residents shared with StarMetro, said it would instal rail dampers and step up maintenance to minimise the noise.
On another matter, Wangsa Jaya RA chairman Muhd Rafi Muhd Sukarman urged DBKL to expedite its response to residents’ complaints.
Complainants often waited a long time for action, he said, adding that City Hall should provide a way to track follow-ups on issues raised.
Muhd Rafi urges DBKL to expedite its response to complaints.
DBKL responds
Promising to look into these issues, Maimunah said the recently gazetted Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP2040) was committed to enhancing public transportation to reduce congestion.
She added that DBKL was working with Road Transport Department (JPJ) to resolve enforcement issues involving abandoned cars.
“DBKL is not authorised to tow these vehicles as they are registered with the department.
“However, JPJ has agreed to authorise DBKL to carry out such operations, and the procedures are now being drafted.”
The proximity of DUKE to Setiawangsa houses (at right) is upsetting residents who have to put up with endless traffic noise.
As for the noise pollution, the mayor said she would forward the issue to relevant service operators and authorities.
On concerns about the time taken to resolve complaints, Maimunah said she had instructed DBKL coordinators, at the parliamentary level, to step up engagement with residents.
“The coordinators have also been asked to submit a weekly report on activities,” she added.
Maimunah said the dialogue initiative served as a platform for local communities to voice their concerns to DBKL, and residents were encouraged to share their proposed solutions for consideration.
Upcoming dialogue sessions will be held for Segambut constituency tomorrow at Damansara Community Centre; Seputeh constituency on Sept 13 at Muhibbah Community Centre; and Cheras constituency on Sept 27 at Taman Midah Community Hall.
