Chin (left) and Teo speaking during the press conference while holding stacks of parking summonses received by residents. — Photos: ART CHEN/The Star
RESIDENTS of Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park, Kuala Lumpur, are frustrated over the frequent parking summonses Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has been issuing on them.
Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park Residents Association (RA) advisor Banie Chin said some residents would receive up to three summonses a day, which was a huge burden as each summons costs RM50.
“This has been happening since January. It is simply unreasonable for residents to receive three summonses a day for parking their vehicles outside the shop houses they live in.
“The summonses also don’t contain a time frame, so many residents continue parking their vehicles at the same spot after paying for the first summons, only to end up being slapped with another summons from DBKL,” he said during a press conference with affected residents.
While it makes sense for visitors to be charged for parking, Chin said the more than 3,500 residents living in that area should be allowed to enjoy some exemptions.
“For example, DBKL could provide stickers for the residents’ vehicles, so that enforcement personnel can identify these vehicles and refrain from issuing summonses to them.
“DBKL could also consider establishing designated parking spots for the residents.
“If these are not feasible, DBKL could consider reducing the rates for the hourly parking and monthly parking pass,” he said, adding that it was important to engage with the residents to create a win-win solution.
Currently, DBKL charges RM140 for its monthly parking pass, while the hourly parking rate is set at RM1 per hour.
Chin said the monthly pass does not guarantee a parking spot for those who purchase it, which results in residents ending up being issued summonses when they were unable to find a proper place to park their vehicles.
“However, guaranteed parking spots may also affect the businesses in the park.
“DBKL needs to strike a balance between the interests of residents and businesses,” he said.
Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park is a mixed development area, parts of which has commercial units on the lower floors and residential units on the upper floors.
Chin said the RA would soon present its requests to Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
Also present during the press conference were Seputeh MCA vice-president Pang Kin Cheong and Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park RA president Teo Ah Huai.
Pang said the current hourly parking rate and price of monthly parking pass was too expensive, as the Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park was located outside the city centre.
“DBKL should refer to other local councils when implementing parking charges and enforcement,” he said.
“Subang Jaya City Council, for instance, is charging only RM80 for its monthly parking pass.
“Additionally, in Puchong Jaya, for example, offenders are only charged RM10 if they pay their summonses within a day.
“It is a bit expensive to charge residents here RM50 even though they pay immediately.”
Teo urged the authorities to resolve the issue quickly so that the residents were not burdened with parking fines.
“Some residents own a few vehicles. It will be a huge burden if each vehicle is slapped with a daily summons, worse still if the enforcement personnel come two to three times a day,” she said.
DBKL has not responded to a request for comments at press time.
