Mixed views on return of Labuan parking fees
Published on: Friday, January 14, 2022
By: Sohan Das
.jpg "Mixed views on return of Labuan parking fees")
A parking compound notice of RM100 issued to a car.
LABUAN: Motorists here who have been enjoying free parking for months now feel a “sting” with its return and a compound fine of RM100 that comes with discount for early disbursement.According to them, initially the compound rate was RM30 and find the present increase drastic. With the continuing pandemic they expected an extension of the parking fee exemption.
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However, there is a mixed reaction to this as some see free parking as encouraging needless lepak (loitering) in coffee shops and thus occupying valuable parking space in a prime area, much to the dismay of those who desperately need to park their cars.
Motorists Julius Elias said there are pros and cons on the matter. A compound of RM100 is certainly hefty at present times with the economy yet to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic as many have lost jobs and working on slashed pay and yet had to use vehicles due to the inadequate public transport system on the island.
He noted that the recent announcement by the Federal Territories Ministry to continue another six months of free rental to the hundreds of traders at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) acknowledged the situation in Labuan.
“The local authority should be guided by the Ministry’s decision and not impose heavy parking compound,” said Julius.
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He said there were about 50,000 registered vehicles on the island while the Labuan Corporation managed lots were only about 2,000 or more.
A company Executive, KC Tan, held a different view saying the there should be some form of control. He said the issue could be addressed with a more effective form of parking.
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He said in KK parking in hotspots, the rate was much higher. “I am told its RM5 for half an hour and the parking lot is marked red in indicate that it was a prime area.
“While the rate in other areas where parking space demand was not so acute could be normal and coloured yellow.”
Labuan parking fees is 50 sen for the first hour and 70 sen for the next. It had remained unchanged for years except the parking for reserve lots was increased from RM200 to RM500 per month.
There were 40 over such lots mainly at urban and industrial area (warehouses).
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