The planned implementation of parking charges in Ukay Perdana has been postponed for six months.
THE planned implementation of parking charges in Ukay Perdana in Hulu Kelang, Selangor, has been postponed for six months following appeals from stakeholders.
This comes after the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) announced plans to introduce charges for all its bays to improve revenue and curb misuse of the parking space.
Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Kamri Kamaruddin, whose constituency covers Ukay Perdana, said the decision was made after discussions with MPAJ representatives and feedback from residents and traders.
“Following our discussions, MPAJ has agreed to postpone the implementation of parking charges in Ukay Perdana for six months,” he said after opening the Mekar Madani Carnival at Pangsapuri Ukay Indah.
“This will allow time for a review and engagement sessions with residents and business operators to gather views before the charges are introduced.”
Kamri said residents had complained about the short notice given before the planned rollout, even though the area had been gazetted for paid parking since 2007.
“Ukay Perdana has been listed as a paid parking zone since 2007, but the charges were never enforced due to public interest considerations.
Kamri: Postponement gives time for engagement sessions with residents and businesses.
“However, after issues such as abandoned vehicles and long-term parking started becoming more common, MPAJ decided it was time to proceed,” he said.
Kamri added that while he understood MPAJ’s rationale, he urged the council to take local conditions into account.
“In my opinion, Ukay Perdana is more of a closed neighbourhood – people who park here are locals running errands.
“There are not many outsiders coming in, so the parking situation is not as congested as in other commercial areas,” he said.
Some residents, he said, raised concerns about abandoned vehicles occupying public bays, but acknowledged that MPAJ had been carrying out periodic clearance operations.
“I understand there are constraints at the council’s depots which made it difficult to remove derelict vehicles quickly.”
MPAJ deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari said the deferment applied only to Ukay Perdana, while parking charges in other designated areas – Taman Cahaya, Ampang Mewah and Cheras Indah – would proceed as scheduled.
He previously said the move was part of efforts to boost the council’s revenue and discourage vehicle abandonment.
MPAJ currently manages nearly 60 carparks with more than 17,500 bays.
During the Mekar Madani carnival, Kamri, who represented state housing and culture committee chairman Datuk Borhan Aman Shah, complimented Pangsapuri Ukay Indah’s self-reliant community.
The community has been involved in catfish rearing, stingless bee (kelulut) honey production and even a laundromat to help generate income for the residents.
The programme by Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS) aimed to empower strata communities economically and foster a more conducive living environment.
LPHS, in a statement, said the programme integrated community-based economic activities in low- and medium-low-cost apartments through collaboration with various government agencies.
“These initiatives not only benefit residents but also help improve the maintenance fee performance of participating apartments.”
To date, the programme had benefitted nearly 14,000 residents across 10 low- and medium-low-cost apartment complexes in Selangor.
