KUALA Lumpur residents and businesses at a few industrial and mixed residential-commercial areas are frustrated with new parking fees imposed on them since two years ago.
Describing the charges as unjustifiable and burdensome, they are calling on Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to reconsider.
StarMetro spoke with stakeholders and activists regarding the parking fee issue faced by motorists at industrial-residential areas in Kepong and Segambut.
Those working or living in the affected areas say they are bound to park their vehicles at the bays for long hours and that the fees are unfair to them.
Stakeholders object
Manufacturing facility manager Gary Chuah Cheng Wai, 37, from Kepong Entrepreneurs Park said the parking fees imposed in the light industrial park increased operating costs and affected foot traffic to his factory.
“Many of us need the parking space to load and unload goods.
“We now worry about being slapped with summonses.
“Customers who briefly stop by our factories are often fined for forgetting to pay the parking fee,” he said, adding that customers would be discouraged from returning due to this.
“Workers here also need to fork out RM140 per month for parking fee,” added Chuah.
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) complaints and welfare bureau (central) head Lee Hoi Eng, who represented the factory owners, said parking was free of charge when the owners signed their sales and purchase agreement with the park’s developer in 1991.
“They were told that the area was an industrial zone. Hence, parking was free.
“However, parking fees were suddenly imposed in January 2024.
“When we met DBKL to seek an explanation, it said the park was a commercial zone.
“We submitted a memorandum to DBKL on April 4 last year.
“In its response on May 15, 2025, DBKL said the park was a mixed industrial zone in zone C, which will be charged a parking fee of 80sen per hour,” he said.
Lee questioned the sudden change of zone.
DBKL’s parking system divides the city into three zones, namely zone A (city centre), zone B (outer-city areas with high commercial activities) and zone C (suburban or industrial-mixed zones).
Vehicles parked in zone A will be charged RM1.50 for the first hour and RM2.50 for every subsequent hour while those parked in zone B will be charged RM1 per hour. Motorists parking their vehicles in zone C will be charged 80sen per hour.
Lee also objected to the implementation of parking fees along Jalan Selingsing in Taman City, which is a residential area.
He said residents should never be required to pay for parking their vehicles in front of their homes.
“Although DBKL has the power to create parking bays and collect fees in any place under its jurisdiction, residential areas should always be exempted.
“Based on my observations, DBKL personnel issue parking summonses in Taman City almost daily.
“We have raised this issue with DBKL and the MPs many times, but there has been no response,” he said.
Lee said it was not justifiable either to charge for parking in industrial areas like Kepong Entrepreneurs Park.
“The factory owners have been paying for assessment and licence among many other fees.
“They shouldn’t be further burdened by parking charges,” he said.
Lim Kok Wah, 53, who lives in a condominium in Jalan Selingsing, said he received three parking summonses from DBKL over the past two months for parking his car by the roadside outside the condominium.
“The number of parking bays allocated by the condominium’s management to each owner was already fixed when we bought our units.
“Hence, if we subsequently own more cars than the stipulated bays, we will need to park outside the condominium.
“Residential areas should never be charged parking fee.”
Shophouse owners along Lorong Bangau 2 in Kepong have also not been spared.
Leong Kuan Cheng, 28, said she received summonses from DBKL for parking her vehicle in front of the shophouse that she lives in.
“In my opinion, the street should have been exempted from parking charges as we are all living here.
“Naturally, we will park our vehicles in the provided bays,” she said.
Noodle seller Yong Lam Lee, 66, claimed that DBKL promised to exempt them from parking charges about 10 years ago, but started enforcing it recently.
“A signage allowing parking was erected on the street about three months ago,” he said.
Yong insisted that parking on the street should be free of charge at the zone.
“This is not a fully commercialised area.
“Some shop owners live on the upper floors of the shophouses here, so parking should remain free,” he said.
Egg wholesaler Low Hin Ching, 72, said it was not justifiable to impose parking fees on the street as traffic volume usually dropped by the afternoon.
“The peak hours in this area are in the morning when the crowd flocks to the morning market nearby.
“The street will become quiet in the afternoon.
“Vehicles parked on the street mostly belong to the residents whose houses face the street. They shouldn’t be charged a fee for parking in front of their houses,” said Low.
Community activist Yee Poh Ping said he had written on behalf of the affected stakeholderes to DBKL on Oct 21 last year, requesting the parking charges on the street be abolished.
In a response to Yee on Nov 11 last year, DBKL said his request could not be considered because the bays were located in a commercial area.
DBKL encouraged residents parking in the commercial area to obtain the RM140 monthly parking pass, which is 56% cheaper than the hourly parking rate.
Yee stressed that special consideration should be given to the residents, as the RM140 monthly pass was a burden.
“There is not much space for residents to park their vehicles in front of their houses, so they are forced to use the bays in the commercial area opposite their homes.
“This scenario makes Lorong Bangau 2 different from other fully commercialised areas,” said Yee.
DBKL rolled out a RM70 monthly parking pass for Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park last year after the residents complained about receiving summonses for parking their vehicles outside the shophouses that they lived in.
Yee welcomed the idea of a similar monthly pass for those parking in Lorong Bangau 2.
“The RM70 pass is much more affordable than the existing RM140 pass. It could address the special needs of the shophouse owners,” he said.
Fees not to penalise
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said the decision to impose parking fees was reasonable and necessary to address disorder, reduce congestion and ensure proper access for customers, suppliers and workers.
“Parking fees are not imposed to penalise businesses.
“Nevertheless, the fees must be managed with transparency and accountability.
“The parking revenue must be reinvested directly into improving infrastructure and services, including roads, traffic management, lighting, cleanliness, safety and public transport connectivity.
“A well-managed Kuala Lumpur is essential for a competitive business environment and long-term, sustainable economic growth,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Jan 20, PRM posted on its social media that the street parking lots in Jalan Selingsing had been painted white, which meant that DBKL had ceased imposing parking charges there.
DBKL has not responded to StarMetro’s queries regarding the issue as at press time.
Factory owners in Kepong Entrepreneurs Park are objecting to the parking fees imposed in the light-industrial park. — Photos: LEONG WAI YEE, CHAN TAK KONG and LEW GUAN XI/The Star
Lee says residents should never be required to pay for parking their vehicles in front of their homes.
Lim: Decision to impose parking fees is to address disorder and reduce congestion.
A traffic cone and pole placed to reserve parking lots in front of business premises in Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park.
Some individuals in Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park hog parking space with barriers, even for non-official lots.
Some cars at the parking bays in Jalan Selingsing of Taman City with summonses on the windscreen.
Yee (second from left), Low (second from right) and Yong (right) talking to two DBKL personnel about the issuance of parking summonses to vehicles parked along Lorong Bangau 2.
