It is common sight in Kuala Lumpur, where people use various objects to ‘book’ parking bays. ― LOW LAY PHON/The Star
KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers say city folk should take proactive action when dealing with people who illegally reserve parking bays.
Unlike clear-cut traffic offences like double parking, obstruction or hogging, the officers are unable to help in cases of people “booking” parking bays.
“We don’t know who put the items there so we cannot issue a summons,” said a DBKL officer who did not want to be named.
“During enforcement ops, those using old motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, flower pots, rubbish bins and chairs to reserve space won’t show their face or admit the objects belong to them. So we can only take the items away.
“But if a member of the public sees such items being used to reserve a bay, the individual can remove them,” said the officer from the Bukit Bintang branch.
Another officer, overseeing the Seputeh area, said, “People are afraid to do so (remove the obstructions from parking bays) because they worry that their car will be scratched or they may get hurt.
“But we have street cameras in most places, which monitor the areas.
Nicholas: DBKL should instal AI-CCTV cameras to nab those who reserve parking bays illegally.
“People who belong to a strong residents association or business association that is strict about rules, should work together to stop people from illegally reserving parking bays,” said the officer.
It is no secret that the lack of a parking operator in Kuala Lumpur has left DBKL’s parking system in a chaotic state.
Since the contract of previous parking contractor Vista Summerose Sdn Bhd was terminated in 2018, parking matters have been under the purview of DBKL’s Finance Department.
However, City Hall is struggling to manage parking facilities in Kuala Lumpur, especially since parking is free in many areas.
DBKL’s suggestion for the public to remove the obstacles has not received positive response.
Long-time Brickfields resident Dr Christopher Nicholas said, “I do not agree with DBKL asking residents to become vigilantes. Who will take responsibility if someone gets hurt in the process?”
A retired teacher from Kepong, Salmiah Hasan, said she was afraid of being targeted if she was to remove flower pots placed by her neighbour to book parking space.
“They might scratch my car or even hurt my cats,” she said.
Salak South Garden Residents Association (SSGRA) chairman Paramasivam Govindasamy is also not in favour of DBKL’s suggestion for residents to get involved in addressing parking space-hogging issues.
“Enforcement is key. If authorities show their presence regularly, people will stop booking bays in such a manner,” he said.
Most agree that regular enforcement is the way forward.
“I think that a better option is for DBKL to instal artificial intelligence (AI)-equipped closed-circuit television cameras in traffic hotspots to nab culprits in the act,’’ said Nicholas.
“Commercial areas like Jalan Sepadu, Brickfields, Bangsar, Wangsa Maju and Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park are notorious for people reserving parking bays. These areas could do with some AI monitoring,” he added.
When contacted, a DBKL spokesperson said the public could remove items from the sites as public parking bays were not personal property.
“However some parking bays are reserved/rented out by DBKL’s Finance Department to shopowners,” said the spokesperson.
These officially booked bays, said the spokesperson, were only reserved from 7.30am to 6pm Mondays to Saturdays.
The bays are open to the public and cannot be blocked or reserved after 6pm daily and on public holidays.
With regards to those hogging parking bays all day, the officer said nothing could be done as long as the vehicle was parked within a bay.
“They are not breaking the law because parking is free in some areas,” he said.
StarMetro observed on Labour Day that there were hundreds of bays in Kuala Lumpur reserved with objects, both in residential and commercial areas.
