In Malaysia, it’s illegal and dangerous to stand in empty parking spaces to "reserve" them for someone else. The act of physically blocking a lot without a vehicle is not recognised by the law and can be considered a public nuisance or obstruction under local council regulations.
Unfortunately, not everyone follows this rule—and one driver in Petaling Jaya paid the price.
Photo via Facebook (Dunia Info)
On Sunday (March 16), a Malaysian driver reversed into a vacant spot at a shopping mall around 3pm, unaware that a woman and a young child had been standing there to ‘chup’ it. Caught on dashcam and later shared by the Dunia Info Facebook page, the woman and child walked away after being forced to give up the spot.
But when the driver returned later, they discovered their car had been scratched—badly.
Believing the woman or her family may have damaged the car in retaliation, the owner checked with mall security for CCTV footage and filed a police report. However, the footage was too blurry to clearly identify anyone.
With no answers from authorities, the driver decided to share the video online, asking for the public’s help. “The police said they couldn’t see anything clearly. So now, I’m looking for witnesses,” the owner explained.
What Can You Do If This Happens to You?
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Don’t engage with individuals trying to reserve parking spots illegally—it’s not worth the risk.
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Record the situation with a dashcam or phone if it's safe to do so.
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Report it to mall or premise security and request access to CCTV footage.
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Make a police report, even if the evidence is unclear—it creates a record of the incident.
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Share with caution—if you're posting footage online, avoid defamatory language and stick to facts.
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Stay calm and stay safe—your safety is more important than any parking space.
Let’s all do our part to keep public spaces respectful and safe—for everyone.
