(Kuala Lumpur, 23rd) – Parking woes continue to plague residents of PPR Gombak Setia, a public housing project in Taman Melati, where an increasing number of vehicle owners struggle daily to find a parking spot. The issue is particularly frustrating at night when residents return home from work, only to find no available parking spaces.
With just 300 parking spots for approximately 3,000 residents, demand far exceeds supply. Frustrated residents are now urging DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) to construct a multi-story parking facility to ease the problem.
A Growing Issue for Residents
PPR Gombak Setia consists of two apartment blocks, each with 400 units. Built in 1998, the flats have since seen a significant rise in car ownership among residents, worsening the parking shortage over the years.
According to Khair, the chairman of the Residents' Association, parking has always been a challenge but has worsened in recent years.
“As more residents purchase vehicles, and as children in these households grow up and start driving, the demand for parking spaces has surged,” he said.
With only 300 parking bays for the entire complex, it’s clear that many residents have more vehicles than the available parking allows.
Parking Woes at Night
Parking is even more problematic at night when most residents return home. Many drivers circle the area multiple times in search of an empty spot, and when none are available, they are forced to park outside the complex. While this solution is inconvenient, it is sometimes the only option.
Some residents even resort to parking in garbage collection areas, obstructing waste disposal trucks from performing their duties. Meanwhile, double-parking has become a common practice, particularly in emergency lanes and roadside areas.
The ‘N Gear’ Solution to Double Parking
Many residents have adopted a “Neutral Gear” system for double parking, where vehicles are left in N (Neutral) gear with no handbrake engaged. This allows other drivers to push obstructing cars aside when they need to exit.
However, problems arise when some residents forget to disengage their handbrake, leading to blocked exits. When this happens, affected drivers must post messages in the resident group chat to locate the car owner and move the vehicle.
Additionally, illegal roadside parking has made the residential roads narrower, creating difficulties for ambulances and fire trucks trying to access the area.
Abandoned Cars Taking Up Parking Spaces
Adding to the frustration, more than 30 abandoned vehicles occupy valuable parking spots. Khair pointed out that if these cars were removed, more space could be freed up for residents.
“The future of parking here in the next five years is uncertain, and DBKL needs to come up with alternative solutions to address the issue,” he added.
Proposal: Convert the Community Hall into a Multi-Level Parking Facility
To address the chronic shortage, Khair has proposed that authorities convert the community hall—currently under DBKL’s jurisdiction—into a multi-level structure incorporating both a hall and a parking facility.
“The hall could remain on the ground floor or upper floors, while the remaining levels could serve as a parking structure, following modern urban planning concepts,” he suggested.
Authorities Urged to Remove Abandoned Vehicles
PKR Wangsa Maju Division Chief Lai Cheng Hing echoed the call for DBKL to clear abandoned vehicles.
He stated that while authorities cannot remove operational vehicles without an owner’s consent, they can dispose of completely abandoned vehicles—those without wheels or missing key components like an engine.
Lai also mentioned that DBKL previously allowed residents to use the community hall parking lot, but as the hall is frequently rented out for events, it is now reserved exclusively for event guests.
Will a Multi-Level Car Park Solve the Problem?
While a multi-level parking facility could ease the shortage, Lai warned that some residents may still prefer parking illegally on the roadside, ignoring available parking bays inside the complex.
A Reminder to Settle Rental Payments
Lai also addressed another issue—residents failing to pay their rent. He urged those concerned about parking issues to fulfill their rental obligations by settling overdue payments on time.
“The original design of these public flats did not allocate one parking space per unit. However, as vehicle ownership has increased over time, the issue of parking shortages has become unavoidable,” he explained.
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