DAP questions hike in parking rate
Published on: Sunday, September 14, 2014
Kota Kinabalu: DAP Sabah has questioned the move by City Hall to reintroduce the car park coupon system, which it claimed would be charging motorists between 34 per cent and 150 per cent more than the present ticketing system.Its Chief Jimmy Wong said the so-called new system to be implemented by DBKK Holdings Sdn Bhd beginning Oct 1 would only be burdening motorists.Instead of introducing the new system and increasing the parking rate, he reiterated his call for City Hall to increase the number of parking spaces in the city.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said the proposed coupon system could be an efficient and effective means of collecting parking fees but it should not be an excuse to increase parking rates. "I have repeatedly said that Kota Kinabalu is now facing a serious lack of parking lots, it should be the main task for City Hall to solve it before increasing the parking rate. "I call upon City Hall to resolve the problem and to increase the parking lots before making any new adjustment," he said here, Saturday.Wong said he was shocked to learn that the new proposed rate was actually higher than the parking rate in much developed Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to their websites, the public parking rate inside KL City is just 80 sen per hour while at the city outbound was 50 sen per hour, in comparison to here where the new proposed rate beginning next month is RM1 for the short-term yellow parking and 50 sen for the long-term green parking."Even compared to Petaling Jaya where the rate for public parking is 60 sen per hour, our rate is still higher. It is totally unacceptable for the general public. I hope the Mayor could explain this.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I reiterate that before making any decision, the Government should listen to the voice of people and find out the root of problem, tackle the issue and resolve the problem. "I hope the Government can reconsider the proposal and postpone the decision," he said.Currently, the rate for the short-term and medium-term parking rate denoted as type A/B is 20 sen for the first half-hour but beginning Oct 1 when these type A/B parking lots are replaced by the yellow colour parking lots the charge for half-hour is 50 sen or a 150 per cent increase.For the first hour, the rate for the type A/B parking lots is 60 sen, while after Oct 1, the rate is RM1, marking an increase of 66 per cent.For Type C, which is for long-term parking, currently the charge is 35 sen for the first hour while under the proposed coupon system the rate is 50 sen per hour (42 per cent increase).Type C would be replaced by the green parking lots beginning Oct 1.Similarly, for the monthly season coupon, which is only applicable for Type C, the price is currently RM31.50, while under the new rate next month it is fixed at RM50."Clearly City Hall is bankrupt of ideas on how to solve the parking and congestion issues in Kota Kinabalu. Only time and time again they resort to increase the rate making the rakyat suffer more," he said. DBKK Holdings Executive Director Kenny Chan has been reported as saying that the implementation of the coupon system was to mainly to eradicate inconvenience to motorists.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
