A car workshop has been taking up parking bays at a DBKL carpark in Seri Petaling. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Traders, market-goers want DBKL to free up spots in Seri Petaling
A public carpark on Jalan Pasai 6 in Seri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, is currently being used by a car workshop for its operations.
This has inconvenienced the public who are unable to park in the lot owned by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
Residents, shopowners and morning market traders in the vicinity said 20 to 30 parking bays, making up about a third of available spots, were consistently occupied by the workshop.
Additionally, some bays have been permanently taken up by individuals who have parked their old cars there as well as along the Jalan Pasai main road.
Stakeholders said that despite numerous complaints lodged with DBKL, including a letter submitted to the mayor’s office, no action had been taken.
“We wrote a letter to the mayor Datuk Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh, dated July 12, submitting a petition signed by 284 people urging DBKL to take action against the culprits, but no action was taken,” said Seri Petaling Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Loh Mee Kim.
According to Loh, DBKL officers came in September to inspect the situation but claimed that their impound yards were full.
Loh says stakeholders have sent a letter to the mayor with a petition signed by over 200 people.
Loh added that there were about 70 traders operating at the morning market from 6am to noon, Tuesday to Sunday, and they relied on the bays to park their vehicles.
Fishmonger Leong Wai Too, 62, also voiced his concerns.
“I have to park my vehicle elsewhere.
“My customers also complain that they have to park their cars near people’s homes and rush to complete their market errands before the houseowners complain.
“This parking facility was opened by DBKL to address the lack of parking space in this area and now it is being misused by the car workshop,” said Leong.
Resident Annie Wong, 71, shared her experience of being forced to park about 800m from the market.
“If the carpark had ample space, I would park there, but it is always fully occupied.
“I cannot buy too many things because I cannot carry them all at one go,” she said.
Wong says she has been forced to park about 800m from the market due to lack of bays.
Leong said DBKL should at least carry out regular enforcement in the area to ensure that the parking bays were not being misused.
“Or they could allow the market association to manage the carpark so that it is fully utilised in the proper manner,’’ he said.
StarMetro’s visit to the area found many old and damaged cars parked both inside and outside the parking lot, which had a sign that said: “Tempat Letak Kereta Taman Seri Petaling.”
A number of the cars there did not have valid road tax stickers and appeared to have been abandoned.
Furthermore, several vehicles appeared to be undergoing repairs.
The scene resembled that of a makeshift car workshop, complete with tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers and jacks lying about.
Some parking bays seem to be permanently occupied by old cars without valid road tax.
There was even a tow truck occupying one of the bays.
The carpark also had motor oil stains on the ground.
However, there was no one working at the site at the time.
When contacted, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said she was aware of the issue and explained that it boiled down to a lack of planning by DBKL.
“DBKL is facing a lack of space to keep cars once impounded, as the number of abandoned vehicles is increasing.
“We also have these car workshops operating in residential areas, which are already congested and lack parking space.
“Clearly we need a long-term solution to this problem, which I hope to address with DBKL soon,” she said.
StarMetro also reached out to a DBKL spokesperson who promised to look into the matter.
