RESIDENTS of Taman Desa and Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park in Jalan Kelang Lama, Kuala Lumpur, were caught by surprise upon seeing uniformed men scanning vehicles in busy commercial areas in their neighbourhood.
They later found out that the men were appointed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to collect data on vehicles parked on DBKL-owned parking bays.
Wearing vests bearing the DBKL logo and armed with an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) device, the men were on the lookout for vehicles with outstanding parking fees.
At Taman Danau Desa, out of 30 vehicles scanned along Jalan 2/109f, only one had paid.
The data on defaulters was promptly sent to enforcement officers to issue summonses.
At Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park, another parking operator performed the same task.
Banners on trees, poles and gates reminding motorists of DBKL’s parking payment rules are visible.
The initiative is aimed at increasing parking revenue in Kuala Lumpur.
Each operator engaged by DBKL has been tasked to scan at least 1,000 vehicles a day.
Fines collected from defaulters are channelled to DBKL, which will then share profits with the appointed operators.
“The more vehicles we scan, the more people pay (after enforcement officers take action), and ultimately more revenue for the city,” said one parking operator who declined to be named.
However, the system is far from perfect, as delays in enforcement hinder its effectiveness.
“For this system to work, enforcement must be immediate. If there’s no prompt action, it is back to square one, with people reverting to the ‘no enforcement means no need to pay’ mindset,” an industry source explained.
The operator’s job is further complicated by the manual nature of the process.
“Once our officers move on to another street after scanning, they cannot come back and re-scan the same spot,” the source added.
Taman Desa resident Koh Swee Hyong said, “Ideally, the enforcement team should take action immediately. If there is delay, people don’t take paying for parking seriously.
“Lack of enforcement encourages defaulters to break rules without fear of consequences.
“If enforcement isn’t prompt, the system falls apart, and people won’t bother paying,” he added.
Taman Desa Residents Association chairman Wong Chan Choy said the system’s success hinged on timely collaboration between operators and enforcement officers.
“Without timely action, this system is at risk of becoming another failed attempt to improve Kuala Lumpur’s parking woes,” Wong said.
Meanwhile residents across the city have seen banners and the increased presence of parking personnel scanning vehicles, sparking mixed reactions.
“Paying for parking ensures that spaces are available and not monopolised by the same cars all day,” said Bangsar resident M. Viknendran.
Sheila Aziz, a 29-year-old office worker from Wangsa Maju said, “With proper enforcement, there’s less double-parking and more turnover, which makes my daily commute smoother,” she said.
However, others feel DBKL has not done enough to inform the public about the new system.
“We were never given proper notification about these changes,” said resident Jaclyn Chin.
“Parking has always been free in my neighbourhood,” she said, referring to some parts of Taman Desa.
“It’s frustrating to wake up one day and find that areas that were previously free are now chargeable,” said Chin.
Some seniors are finding the transition challenging.
“For someone my age, navigating these complex parking apps is daunting,” said 72-year-old retiree Joseph Rajamanikam.
“I miss the days of coins and simple machines. Now, I feel lost and stressed every time I need to park,” he added.
Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman SKK Naidu said a banner on the parking app had been put up in his area but scanning had yet to start.
Kuala Lumpur’s street parking is from 7.30am to 6pm, Mondays to Saturdays, excluding Sundays and public holidays.
Parking rates vary by zone, and a monthly pass of RM140 is valid only in Zones B and C (see graphic). — By BAVANI M
