MPAJ has designated 10 bays as hot zone parking at the Jalan Memanda commercial area. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
IT HAS been almost two months since the two-hour parking system was introduced at the busy Jalan Memanda commercial district in Ampang Jaya, Selangor, yet motorists say that enforcement needs to be beefed up.
They told StarMetro that while they applauded the idea of the new system, many users were still not adhering to the time limit, thus depriving others of parking spaces.
It was previously reported that Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) had implemented the two-hour parking system (hot zone parking) at 10 parking bays near the Ampang Point mall and enforcement had started in April.
Clerk Zarina Md Zin, 46, said she managed to get a spot at 10am whereas all bays would be taken up by 8am prior to the system’s implementation.
“The designated lots are useful if you have a quick errand to run. It is also easy to keep track of your time limit using the parking app,” she said.
Zarina, who works in the area, said she would switch to council parking bays after two hours as private parking rates were too high to leave her car there the whole day.
Stephanie Lee, 38, said that enforcement officers should conduct more frequent checks at the hot-zone parking bays.
Lee, who makes multiple trips to the area daily to oversee her accounting office and meet with clients, noticed that some vehicles were parked beyond the time limit.
“Sometimes, they are still there even after four or five hours but there are no compounds issued.
“Clients always complain about the lack of parking here but this can be resolved if frequent enforcement is carried out,” she said.
During StarMetro’s visit on a busy weekday morning, only one motorist was able to find a spot at the hot-zone parking bays.
The rest of the vehicles were still at the bays beyond the two hours, despite the presence of signs and clearly marked bays.
There was also no payment option for the two-hour parking bays in the Smart Selangor parking app.
StarMetro has reached out to MPAJ for comments on the matter.
MPAJ is one of several local councils after Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to introduce the hot-zone parking system in sectors of busy commercial areas, with the aim to improve parking space usage.
MPAJ intends to expand the hot-zone parking system with 10 bays in the Taman Melawati commercial area sometime this year.
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Zarina says the designated lots are helpful when one needs to run a quick errand in the area.
Lee says sometimes, cars remain in the bays even after five hours but no compounds are issued.
StarMetro’s report on April 3.
