KOTA KINABALU: Opposition Parti Warisan is questioning a move by the Penampang district council to use a peninsula Malaysia-based company to implement public parking fees that are scheduled to come into effect from July 1.
"The question now is why has the council chosen a company from peninsula Malaysia to collect the parking fees when there are local companies that can provide the same service.
"Did the Penampang council even call for a tender to undertake the job?" Warisan vice president Junz Wong said in a statement Wednesday (June 12).
He said that there were a few local companies that could provide the same services but were not given a chance.
"Penampang council must explain," he said, adding that the local authority must upgrade parking facilities given that they are collecting fees.
"It is not right for people to put up with inferior facilities when they are already expected to pay for it," he added.
The semi-urban Penampang district council, which is expected to be upgraded to a municipal council later this year, had held back on imposing the public parking fees since early this amid public resistance over the proposed rates.
Signboards have been put up on the implementation of the parking fees in the commercial areas of the district to inform the public of the parking charges from July 1.
Wong also urged neighbouring Kota Kinabalu City Hall to be cautious when deciding on the parking company as the current company's contract is expected to end later this year.
"I advise the Kota Kinabalu City Hall to make sure priority is given to local service providers who are qualified and capable of doing a good job," he added.
