15/12/2025

MONDAY | DEC 15, 2025 3 Plan not viable due to project delays PETALING JAYA: Persistent delays in public transport projects underline why reducing parking for residential developments near transit hubs may be premature, cautioned an expert. While the idea is sound in principle, Wan Md Hazlin Agyl Wan Hassan, CEO of transport think-tank MY Mobility Vision, warned that Malaysia has yet to achieve the level of rail reliability, first and last-mile connectivity, and enforcement needed to make the policy effective. “The proposal is directionally correct and reflects where cities around the world are heading. “Minimum parking requirements do inflate housing costs, sometimes unnecessarily, especially for developments close to rail stations.” He highlighted the LRT3 project to illustrate the importance of policy sequencing. The LRT3, originally slated for completion by the end of this year, has been delayed again due to software glitches, potentially pushing the timeline back to the second quarter of 2026. “The LRT3 project is not just another rail line – it is a structural corridor for the western Klang Valley. “Its delays stem from accumulated issues across multiple administrations, contractual restructuring, scope changes and complex systems integration.” Wan praised Prasarana’s decision not to rush final testing, noting that rail systems should never be opened to meet political deadlines if technical readiness is lacking. Yet, from a housing and planning perspective, the delays create uncertainty. “If parking is reduced today on the assumption that LRT3 will be fully operational soon, but the line takes longer to stabilise, residents are left without the promised alternative. “In that situation, people will understandably keep their cars and look for parking elsewhere,” he said. Reducing parking, he stressed, only works if residents are confident they can live without a car – a confidence that remains uneven across Malaysia. “Proximity to a station on paper does not always translate into convenient, safe or reliable daily mobility. “So while the idea is sound, it needs to be applied carefully, with clear conditions tied to the actual quality of public transport and station access on the ground.” He added that public transport upgrades must come first or at least move in parallel, because parking limits alone cannot change behaviour. “Parking reduction shapes behaviour, but behaviour only changes when people have a reliable alternative,” Wan said. Spillover parking remains a major concern, as many households maintain a “Plan B” car for emergencies, family responsibilities or travel to areas not served by public transport. “If parking supply is cut without reducing the underlying need for that car, spillover is almost inevitable,” he said. To make a car-lite lifestyle viable, Wan outlined prerequisites including reliable trains and buses, safe pedestrian access to stations, higher-frequency feeder buses, flexible demand-responsive transit, legal and financing reforms to decouple parking from housing and credible enforcement of on-street parking. “Reducing parking near transit stations is the right long-term direction and the minister is right to push the conversation forward. “But Malaysia has not yet reached the level of transit reliability and connectivity that allows parking reduction to lead the change. “When that happens, fewer parking spaces won’t feel like a sacrifice – they’ll feel unnecessary.” – By Harith Kamal

Reliable public transport needed for parking reforms

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s ambition to cut parking requirements for new residential developments near public transport hubs could backfire unless the nation first delivers a system that is genuinely reliable, convenient and affordable, warns a road safety researcher. While the initiative reflects global urban planning trends, Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hwa cautioned that limiting parking without first strengthening public transport may worsen congestion and create new safety risks. “In principle, the proposal is strategically sound and aligns with global best practices in urban planning,” Law said. “It reflects the core principle of transit oriented development (TOD): if you build high-density housing directly adjacent to high-quality public transport, you should design it for people, not for cars.” Transport Minister Anthony Loke recently proposed that developers reduce the number of parking bays for projects near LRT or MRT stations, arguing that the current requirement of one or two spaces per unit drives up property prices and entrenches car dependency. Law said reducing mandatory parking spaces could lower construction costs, potentially making homes more affordable, while signalling a shift away from car-centric development. However, he stressed that success hinges on balancing incentives and restrictions. “This is a carrot-and-stick approach. The ‘carrot’ must be an exceptionally convenient, reliable and affordable public transport system.” Law warned that rolling out parking reductions where public transport connectivity remains weak could produce negative short-term outcomes including o Road safety researcher says reducing bays near LRT and MRT stations without efficient alternatives could worsen congestion and create new safety risks Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Law says reducing parking spaces could lower construction costs and make homes more affordable. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN.

pedestrian-friendly real-time tracking apps, priority lanes for buses and sufficient parking at transit hubs. “If these improvements were implemented, public transport would become a more attractive, convenient and practical alternative. “Personally, I would be much more willing to rely on it if it were easier, faster and stress-free compared with driving,” she added. Mohd Haqim Haizar, 27, another high-rise resident in Kuala Lumpur, echoed her concerns. “Even living next to an LRT station, I still need my car to get to work on time. “Reducing parking without improving public transport would only create headaches for everyone,” he said. Haqim added that while the demand responsive transit (DRT) system is a promising initiative in principle, its impact remains limited. “When it started, it worked well, but traffic congestion and a car-centric society have undermined it.” – By Harith Kamal pathways, new developments. “Residents with the means will still buy cars, leading to creative – and often illegal or disruptive – parking solutions.” Comparing Malaysia with Singapore and Japan, he highlighted the importance of sequencing. “Singapore and Japan did not just reduce parking – they invested in and prioritised public transport first, for decades. “Malaysia’s TOD efforts are promising, but we are playing catch-up. Feeder bus networks, service frequency, pedestrian connectivity and fare integration are not yet at the level needed to replicate those models.” Law urged the government to prioritise strengthening public transport before implementing widespread parking reductions, emphasising that the policy itself should not be abandoned. “The government must first prove that public transport is a viable and superior choice for daily life.”

increased congestion and unsafe conditions in surrounding neighbourhoods. “If implemented alone, the short-term effect will be negligible to negative. “Drivers will preserve their vehicles and park in the vicinity instead – in side streets, commercial areas or nearby villages.” This phenomenon, known as parking spillover, can worsen congestion and compromise safety, particularly in areas intended to be more walkable. “Residents will hunt for parking in the very areas where walkability and safety should be prioritised,” Law said, adding that dissatisfaction among residents would likely rise. According to him, TOD benefits only materialise when a critical mass of residents genuinely chooses not to drive, reducing total vehicle kilometres travelled. Limiting parking prematurely also risks failing to change commuter behaviour and undermining the appeal of

Residents raise concerns over connectivity gaps PETALING JAYA: Plans to slash car park units in new high-rise developments near LRT and MRT stations are raising alarm among residents, who say Malaysia’s public transport is still too unreliable for people to give up their cars. especially during peak periods,” she said. She also warned that reducing parking could worsen congestion within high-rise complexes where residents already own cars. “This may lead to double-parked vehicles, turning two-way roads into one-way streets. Such situations are not only inconvenient but also dangerous. “During emergencies, access for ambulances, fire engines, or other services could be severely restricted.”

Priyanka (not her real name), a resident of an apartment near a transit station, said the policy might work in areas with excellent connectivity, but for many, owning a car remains a necessity. “If the policy is implemented in areas that are well connected to public transport, it could be a positive move. “Reducing parking spaces may encourage residents to rely more on public transport. However, in locations where access is limited or inconvenient, it would create difficulties.” Priyanka, who drives to work daily, said the nearest station is about three kilometres from her home, with few practical options to reach her workplace. “Journeys that take only minutes by car can sometimes take hours by public transport,

Highlighting the shortcomings of Malaysia’s public transport system, Priyanka said: “Major hotspots such as Kuala Lumpur, Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya should be prioritised but improvements are also needed nationwide to ensure wider connectivity.” She suggested measures to make residents more willing to depend on public transport including increased train and bus frequency, extended operating hours, better last-mile connectivity through bike-sharing or