A school bus operator who has been parking buses on public roads in Taman Bukit Indah, Jalan Kelang Lama in Kuala Lumpur, says he is looking for an alternative space.
KC Tai, who operates Tai Bus, said while his rented depot could accommodate all his buses, double-parked vehicles outside the site made it difficult to drive into the lot or exit from it.
“I have engaged with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) multiple times on this matter,” he said, adding that he had asked DBKL to keep a tow truck on standby to remove obstructing vehicles.
Tai acknowledged that he had resorted to parking his vehicles on public roads in Taman Bukit Indah, but said he had ensured they were not obstructing or posing a risk to other motorists.
He said the buses were new and their engines were not left idling.
For a long-term solution, Tai said he was looking to buy land, but finding a suitable site would take time.
Following a StarMetro report about more than 20 school buses and vans parked along a residential road in Taman Bukit Indah, DBKL said it had held a mediation session with residents, police and other stakeholders on Sept 3.
A joint site inspection with Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), DBKL and the school bus operator followed on Sept 22.
DBKL said it had issued an enforcement notice under Section 46(1)(a) of Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, directing the operator to remove the buses and vans from the residential area, relocate them to a suitable depot and submit proof of relocation.
In its latest directive, DBKL gave the operator one week to relocate the buses.
Residents had complained that the buses were being shifted from one part of the neighbourhood to another.
Resident CK Tan said he had received complaints from an elderly resident who was unhappy about the buses parked at Jalan Nyaman 10.
Another resident, Peter Lu, said he was glad the buses had been moved from outside his house but had since received complaints from neighbours about the vehicles being parked further down the road.
He said the buses continued to obstruct the road and posed a danger to motorists.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who said she was aware of the problem, said: “There needs to be a short-term solution first.
“The former sewage treatment plant site in Jalan Nyaman 9 is vacant, so perhaps he (Tai) could use it temporarily to park the buses, subject to approval from the relevant authorities.
“In the long term, he should look for land where he can park them,” she said.
