SEPUTEH MP Teresa Kok has told residents of housing estates in Kuchai Lama to boycott paying parking fees if they are not happy with the metered parking system.
She said this during a protest against the parking scheme by more than 100 Kuchai Lama residents gathered in Jalan 1/116B, Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park, last Saturday.
As stated on the meter, the charge is 50 sen per hour from Monday to Saturday, 7.30am to 6pm.
The residents have started a petition and have so far collected more than 1,000 signatures so far.
According to Wong Yun Ching, those staying at the shophouses are affected because they will still have to pay parking even if they do not go out.
“My family owns two cars. The recent increase in petrol cost and now the parking charges are making life difficult for us,” the 50-year-old cleaner, who stays in one of the shophouses.
Pang Hui Lim, a 20-year-old shopkeeper in Taman Goodwood, said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) workers went to the area two weeks ago to paint the yellow lines for parking bays.
Pang estimated that he would have to fork out about RM500 per month for the parking charges.
Barber Ponnanam Balam expects more than 56 shops will be affected.
“DBKL officers came to put up the meters two weeks ago. I’ve stayed in the area for 56 years and this is the first time we are required to pay for parking,” he said.
The protest crowd grew bigger later as more and more residents showed their dissatisfaction of the metered-parking system.
According to Teresa, this problem was not only faced by Kuchai Lama residents but in other areas of Kuala Lumpur as well.
She said almost every day there was a protest on parking charges somewhere in the city.
“The parking charges are adding to the people’s burden, especially after the 41% fuel hike. The DBKL should have a heart,” she said.
Teresa said she had raised the issue at Parliament and the answer she received was that this was a move by the City Hall to reduce congestion in the commercial area.
“The residents have no choice but to park at the roadside due to limited parking spaces in their area,” she said.
“The problem is that public transport is inefficient. There is no bus service here,” she said.
The residents confirmed that there was no bus service in their area.
One way to get around it is for council to issue parking permits to local residents. Then “outsiders” would pay parking fees while local residents are exempted. Parking permit can come at a small costs. 🙂
Without that, it’s quite harsh. Where’re local residents going to park? (i don’t know how the local area looks like, never been there)
I don’t dwell in Seputeh so can’t really comment on this.
Anyway, for all decisions, including this one, DBKL must make public the reason for their course of action. The justification must be transparent and acceptable.
I now understand why KLites want their mayor to be elected by them.
Damn bloody elogical! Most of the shop lots there have residence on their upper floors. Imagine being an owner of the lot and you have to pay for your car park?
Two, the timing from 7.30am – 6.00pm = 10 1/2 hours! from Mon – Sat? (If the public servants work as hard as the metered timing then M’sia will definitely prosper in no time)
Teresa, this is also happening in PJ areas. Hope you and your counterpart will look into this to lighten the RAKYAT’s burden.
I actually live there and there are 12 houses on top of each shop lot unit in Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park which means for every 100 shops there are 1200 residents houses. How can the DBKL people come up with such an stupid idea that it is an commercial area when number of houses are more then the shops? Is BN trying to get even with the rakyat for loosing majority seats to opposition in Federal Territory? And is this what PM means when he says that the government is trying to “kurang beban rakyat” after the steep hike in fuel by implementing all this new type of nonsense? Now they put meters down our house for parking soon they will put meters outside our houses for us even to go in to our houses. It is definitely time for change in Malaysia. And i pray that Pakatan Rakyat will come to power soon.
Teresa,
Being a resident in Seputeh, I stand neutral on this issue. Why? Because implementing metered parking will not only boost DBKL’s coffers, but also will regulate parking rules and regulations. One just have to walk around Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park, or the commercial areas around OUG and Mega Mendung to witness the haphazard parking habits of users. Compounded by illegal blocking of parking lots, especially by operators of auto workshops, causes lots of inconvenience to other motorists.
I have prayed for DBKL enforcement officers or police officers to actually come around and enforce the law. Finally this is happening. Thank God.
I understand the plight of those who stay in shophouses where they have to pay to park their cars in front of their residences. May I suggest that for the short-term solution, DBKL may issue free parking permits in the form of windscreen stickers to these residents (one for every unit?) For the long-term, DBKL should consider building multi-storey carpark for areas with high density population. Me and my wife would lament at the apparent “stupidity” of DBKL planners who decided to build a food court at Mega Mendung area (behind OUG Plaza) in an attempt to house the hawkers but had failed to extend the building to house a multi-storey carpark. Perhaps they should learn a thing or two from MPPJ (MBPJ today) who builds these infrastructure in Sek. 14 (next to Jaya S/mart) and PJ New Town, where it’s always congested and parking is always hell.
When will they learn?
Dear leguan and Philip lee,
I don’t understand why you harp on paying to plop you r vehicles? Isn’t that a normal practice elsewhere? Please put on your thinking caps? When DBKL imposes assessment taxes, you make noise; when DBKL imposes parking fees, you make noise; when DBKL issues summons for breaking laws, you make noise; so how on earth do you think DBKL will get money to serve the rakyat? I guess in this case, the Mayor prints his own currency?
I’m all for good governance. I strive for excellent service from the state and federal governments whom the people of Malaysia has chosen. Therefore I will pay up when it matters, provided I get a satisfactory explanation on how my money is being spent.
jukhoman says:-
I’m all for good governance. I strive for excellent service from the state and federal governments whom the people of Malaysia has chosen. Therefore I will pay up when it matters, provided I get a satisfactory explanation on how my money is being spent.
Ya, go pay up to all your UMNO GOONs for them to thicken their own pockets.
You are talking like the Shabby Cheek guy last night on the debate, the topic was related to petrol price increase and the economy, and that Cheek guy went on digging DSAI history!
Here, we’re talking about metered parking lots and NOT assessment taxes and summonses. Think you need a cap made in France.
jukhoman,
I just expressed my opinion that things could have been different if KL were to have an elected mayor. But I don’t think all appointed DBKL officers, or local councillors for that matter, are heartless people To be frank, I don’t consider myself an anti-establishment person but a straight-talking one.
Anyway, I come from Penang, and you know, Penangites are are the complaining lot.
YB Teresa,
You care not only for the residents of Kuchai Lama but people anywhere that seek your help. I can only think of you as the new Lee Lam Thye. People in KL and Selangor are fortunate to have you as their leader. The other day I took advantage of this column to ask you to convey to LGE and other 10 Pg Opposition MPs to appeal to the federal government to revive the Pg monorail and PORR projects. Whether you did suggest to LGE or not I thank you all the same. I read in the newspapers that Guan Eng and his DAP MPs had met Pak Lah regarding this.
I stay at Jalan 1/116B Sri Desa
I missed the protest last Saturday..
If DBKL wants to impose parking fees, what services or improvement/upgrading can we expect?
Ms. Teresa..I do not agree with the parking fees, but please also look at the unhygienic and indiscrimintate dumping of rubbish at the 2 ends of the road..
Why is it that 1000 people can sign to protest parking fees but nobody wants to do anything about the unsightly bins..
There is “Free Smells’ with every meal at BRJ or ABC .
Educate the Banglas on cleanliness please
Philip Lee,
Why do you have to be so partisan about this issue? This has got NOTHING TO DO with UMNO. I, for one, have always resented the way those UMNO warlords carried themselves around. I used to be a civil servant but I resigned coz I can’t stand working for these baboons. But let’s be reasonable.
I believe I didn’t stray from the subject. I’m just disappointed that there are people who act without thinking straight. C’mon, we live (or strive to live) in a country governed by the rule of law. Taxes/tribute is a cornerstone of governance. Ask LGE, LKS, LKY or anyone you like. They will give you the same answer. I admit there are many wrongs things happening in this country, thanks to the people most of the Malaysians chose. But we as members of the society can’t be all that innocent. (Please read my first comment THOROUGHLY). As I said before, I strive for Good Governance, not mob rule. Regardless who is there at the top, as long as he/she does his/her job well, I happy as a pie.
Btw, I have lots of caps and hats from France. See me if you need one.
guys, I have been quiet lately because I was busy with work and I got robbed.
according to police, since many of them got summoned to do road blocks, muggers are having a rich harvest
lee wee tak,
The unsettling political situation in the country is man-made, and the unnecessary roadblocks have worsened the safety of citizens. You’re an indirect victim of the current turmoils in the country. All of us suffer in the form of losing money in the stock market, reduced productivity because of late for work, losing potential job opportunities as a result of investors withdrawing their potential investments, fewer tourist arrivals, etc, etc. In fact, we the rakyat are the losers when two or more top political figures choose to play political games in the open. When two or more elephants fight, the grass gets trampled. (My sympathy to you. Glad that you’re safe and sound)
Philip Lee/jukhoman,
I hope you two not to get emotional when writing comments. Describing some UMNO or government people as GOONS or baboons will only hurt their feelings when they happen to read your comments here. Yes, PM AAB allows us freedom of speech but please treasure it by at least not resorting to name calling however angry we are.
Do you know what many people in Georgetown referred to former CM Koh Tsu Koon when they saw him coming? ‘gong kia’ or idiot! Don’t say like that, at least he is our YB, I said to my friends. We condemned the ‘Bung”and the ‘Tajuddin’ MPs for their sexist and racist outbursts in Parliament but we be careful when writing comments lest people have low opinion for us The two of you, no hard feelings, OK?
You can call me a sycophant or anything, I wouldn’t mind at all.
Thanks leguan, for setting me straight. I stand corrected.
I’ve seen these parking ticket machines have also appeared in Bangsar and Brickfields. I noticed that in the Telawi area, there is only one machine for the whole length of each road, and I saw no signs telling you that you have to pay. It’s crazy having only one machine one each road, especially if the road is long.
Since last 3 months, i have found a place in Kuchai Lama to enjoy my dim sum breakfast (once or twice a month). Unfortunately now, i need to pay 50 sen more. Sigh…. CHKL is like blood sucker.
one machine for the whole stretch of each road , ask them go hongkong see for themselves one machine for each parking lot , lousy planning by chkl……………
It was said that some smart guy is charging DBKL RM1.50 per parking bay per day for supplying those tickets dispensing machines. Whether you pay or not, it is no longer this smart guy’s problem. He will collect his dues from DBKL. DBKL will have to enforce & make sure that KLites pay! Where else can you find a bigger sucker in the world?