You can walk; we can't: PwD fed up with motorists hijacking designated parking bays

Johor Baru residents with disabilities are growing increasingly frustrated with motorists using designated parking bays for people with disabilities (PwD) as quick-stop spaces. This forces genuine PwD individuals and their families to park further away, putting them at risk or even forcing them to cancel appointments. Partivi Masiran, a 54-year-old housewife, regularly struggles to take her disabled teenage child to appointments due to limited PwD parking bays and irresponsible motorists occupying them. The issue is exacerbated by a lack of empathy towards PwD individuals, she said.

Volunteer Yahya Haidrus, 55, who uses a wheelchair, has witnessed similar misuse of PwD parking bays by non-disabled motorists. He questions why, if the practice can be enforced overseas with fines, Malaysia cannot adopt a similar system. Another issue is that some PwD bays are blocked by traffic cones, making them difficult to access, especially for those who need to exit their vehicles to move the obstruction.

Johor Road Transport Department (RTD) director Zulkarnain Yasin explains that parking bays under local authorities do not fall under the definition of a road in the Road Transport Act 1987. Therefore, the RTD and police cannot enforce fines under the Act. However, amendments to the Act have been approved, and their enforcement will depend on when they are gazetted. Local authorities can still take action against violators using existing laws, including clamping vehicles where legally permitted.

State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor stated that the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) has provisions governing PwD parking bay usage in the Road Transport (Parking Places) Order (MBJB) 2026. Violations can result in a RM30 fine, and MBJB can take stronger action against repeat or serious violations, such as removing and impounding vehicles.