Loke Pushes Developers to Cut Parking Near LRT/MRT

It looks like housing developers may soon be encouraged to scale back the number of parking bays in projects built near LRT or MRT stations, as Putrajaya intensifies efforts to push more Malaysians toward public transport.

This follows Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s announcement that the proposal has been submitted to the housing and local government ministry for review. He noted that the long-standing requirement of one or two parking spaces per residential unit continues to drive up construction costs and, ultimately, property prices.

Loke said developments located close to rail stations shouldn’t be bound by the same parking rules, as residents in these areas are naturally better positioned to rely on trains rather than cars. Reducing the parking ratio, he added, could help break long-held habits around car dependency.

He highlighted that several transit-oriented developments in Kuala Lumpur have already been granted flexibility or reduced parking obligations by local authorities, signalling a shift toward more adaptable planning guidelines.

Responding to concerns about multi-car households, Loke stressed that the proposal applies strictly to new projects and is mainly aimed at younger buyers who choose to live within walking distance of urban rail lines.

For those living next to LRT or MRT stations, the need for a personal vehicle is typically much lower, which can help ease monthly expenses and reduce the overall cost of urban living.

Loke’s latest push suggests a broader strategy: to ramp up public transport usage not just by improving services, but also by reshaping development norms, starting with fewer parking lots in well-connected urban areas.

MalayMail