Public can apply for OKU parking

A patient using the OKU parking bay near Kurnia Dialysis Centre in Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, Petaling Jaya.

THE public can submit applications to Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to apply for parking bays for the disabled (OKU) in commercial or public areas in the city that need such facilities.

According to MBPJ’s guidelines, it needs to allocate 2% of overall parking bays for people with disabilities, said Bandar Utama assemblyman Jamaliah Jamaluddin at a press conference after opening two new parking bays for the disabled near Kurnia Dialysis Centre in Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara.

In submitting a request for the designated parking bays, she said the applicant would have to write an official letter to MBPJ’s Planning and Development Department with details such as justification of usage, photos of the proposed area and detailed information about the applicant.

Upon receiving the request, the department will conduct a site visit with its universal design team to audit and decide if there is really a need for new or additional parking facilities for the disabled.

“The site visit is for the final approval to justify and confirm the request.

“The application will be processed by the department’s Sustainable Development section,” said Jamaliah, adding that her office had assisted with the application for OKU parking bays and ramp near Klinik Ronnie in Taman Megah.

Jamaliah said priority would be given to clinics, dialysis centres and areas where there were many NGOs with visitors who had disabilities.

Jamaliah (left) showing the OKU sticker that is required for people to use parking bays for the disabled. With her is MBPJ City Planning assistant officer Nor Hanafiah Abdullah.

“However, the council will review the situation in that local area and consider the applications based on the local community’s needs.

“My office has received complaints from the public about the lack of OKU parking bays, but what people don’t know is that they can submit their requests directly to MBPJ if need be.”

According to MBPJ, people who use OKU parking bays must have the OKU sticker displayed on their vehicles.

“The disabled person or their carergiver can apply for it free at MBPJ.

“The applicant must bring along the OKU card issued by the Social Welfare Department (JKM),” said a MBPJ spokesman, adding that the application could be done

at the council’s Community Welfare Department at Level 7, Menara MBPJ in Jalan Yong Shook Lin.

MBPJ provides three OKU transit vans to ferry people with disabilities who do not have their own transportation.

The vans equipped with hydraulic lifts are available from 8am to 5pm on weekdays.

Bookings can be made by calling 03-7956 0203 / 0206.

Jamaliah urged the public to not abuse the OKU parking bays, failing which MBPJ would carry out enforcement action, where the culprits can be fined RM100 under MBPJ’s parking by-law.