Stop collecting parking fees outside the KL city centre

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw reiterates that the Government must reconsider the step to start collecting parking fees outside the city centre because the people are facing difficulties such as business as business downturn.

Being sympathetic to the people who are beginning to go through a tough time is essential. City Hall Kuala Lumpur (CHKL) must be more sensitive. Has it shortchanged the people?

Dr Tan was with residents at the Kepong Baru playing field in the morning of 13.7.2008. They object to the imposition of parking fees outside the city centre.

On 10.7.2008, the Deputy Federal Territory Minister YB Datuk Saravanan insisted that the measure to collect parking fees outside the KL city centre would be continued so as to reduce traffic congestion. Hitherto, CHKL only imposes this in the city centre, side by side with non-CHKL operators. Or, has CHKL teamed up with all of them?

CHKL has begun to issue compounds to those who refuse to pay parking fees such as in Kepong Baru. This has infuriated residents.

If the intention is to reduce traffic congestion, one sensible step is to improve all forms of public transport. Now, less than 20% of cityfolks use public transport, compared with other cities such as Singapore where 60-70% of city dwellers take public transport. KL public transport like buses must be improved.

Before the recent increase of petrol price by 40-60%, people were starting to feel the pinch of inflation. Business is down perhaps by 50 to 70%. Collecting parking fees in business areas outside the KL city centre affects business further.

We stress that stopping the imposition of parking fees outside KL city cntre will lighten the burden on the people. CHKL must respond sympathetically.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw