By Boo Jia Cher
The following is a description of a neighbourhood around an LRT station in the Klang Valley. By local standards, it is one of the “better” ones, with plenty of high-density apartments within walking distance.
On paper, it is a model for transit-oriented development (TODs) — every real estate guru’s favourite buzzword now.
In reality? It is transit-oriented dysfunction, thanks to poor planning, weak enforcement, and misplaced priorities.
Come, take a walk with me
The problems are clear from the word “go”: a tree-lined covered walkway from the station ends abruptly at a busy road.
A pedestrian crossing exists, but it is uninviting: multiple lanes of intimidating traffic and a raised median make it impassable for wheelchairs and strollers. On the other side, uneven drain covers and no clear path to nearby shops complete the disjointed experience.
It can be a short five-to-10-minute walk to the nearest shops, but hostile design leaves you with little incentive but to drive, even just to cross the road.
That covered walkway just vanishes across the street. All that is left is a narrow, broken pavement constantly obstructed by lampposts, signboards, and electrical boxes. (Why even bother building a pavement?)
Further ahead, the footpath disappears entirely, swallowed by rows of parked cars, many seemingly abandoned, others belonging to residents exploiting lax enforcement to avoid paying for parking inside their apartment compounds.
It doesn’t matter that pedestrians rely on this route daily, or that bus stops line the street. Just two minutes from public transport, the road is already choked with private vehicles; a bitter irony. Our local councils appear more inclined to overlook illegal parking than to invest in safe, functional infrastructure for those on foot.
It reflects an ugly truth: public space is surrendered to cars, and authorities are unwilling to enforce even the most basic rules.
Just two minutes from the station lies a fenced-off, long-abandoned lot; prime real estate with excellent public transit access. It could be a park or community space, offering residents a place to unwind and giving street vendors a legal, organised spot to operate. Instead, it is overgrown with weeds, strewn with trash, and full of wasted potential.
Next to it, a car dealership occupies valuable land, contributing nothing to the surrounding community.
The nearby LRT park-and-ride is often only half full. Trash is scattered around, with food scraps thrown for pigeons that spread disease.
An illegal car workshop has occupied space meant for commuters. Garbage accumulates, metal debris is strewn across the area, and workers openly burn waste, right across from densely populated apartment blocks. A shining example of civic responsibility.
Just beyond, yet another pavement dead-ends at another major road. No crossings, no pedestrian refuge, just cars zooming by as people fend for themselves.
Down to fundamentals
New train lines and “TODs” mean little if we can’t get the basics right.
Weak enforcement and poor planning are clearly holding us back. Overlapping jurisdictions, corruption, misplaced priorities, tolerance of low standards, and insufficient resources create a system where rules are ignored, trust is low, and public spaces fall apart.
Without local elections, officials often prioritise pleasing their political superiors over meeting the needs of local residents. Are they simply clocking in, doing the bare minimum, and waiting for a pension — while neighbourhoods decay?
Because of this poor performance, local authorities fall behind, causing messy development, traffic jams, and broken infrastructure. People who can afford it withdraw into upscale private communities, while those who cannot are left to endure substandard public spaces.
This neglect creates a cycle of decay, with behaviours like littering and illegal parking becoming the norm of public life in Malaysia, deepening the inequality in the country.
Simple fixes make a big difference
The solutions aren’t expensive. Clear pavements, safe crossings, shade, and the removal of obstacles can quickly transform how people move through a neighbourhood. With consistent, impartial enforcement, change can happen in weeks.
If walking or cycling to the station or local shops felt safe and pleasant, many more would leave their cars behind, easing congestion and improving quality of life.
A cleaner, more orderly neighbourhood where rules are respected creates a virtuous cycle. People take more pride and responsibility, and public spaces thrive.
Yet instead of progress, we have accepted decay. Just minutes from the city centre, many stations are surrounded by broken streets, trash, and missed opportunities. These places could be vibrant and walkable, not dumping grounds for abandoned cars and open burning.
The excitement around MRT3 is understandable. But before rushing toward a new line, let’s focus on what we already have. The real missing piece isn’t infrastructure. It is the will to unlock the potential of the transit-oriented neighbourhoods that already exist.
Bird’s eye view of LRT station, with covered walkway and parking spots for cars.
Boo Jia Cher is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.