BY OH ING YEEN

WHILE most people would want to do away with parking fees, 24 business owners along Jalan J-avenue in Cheras have requested Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) to impose a parking fee.

Jalan J-avenue is a two-way street.

Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng said business owners in the nearby neighbourhood mall took advantage of the free parking along J-avenue and would leave their vehicles there from morning to night instead of parking inside the shopping centre which charged a fee.

He was speaking to journalists after meeting the business owners. Also present was a Revenue Department officer from MPKj.

Teo Kee Hock, 52, said it was frustrating for business owners like him to see a car occupying a spot in front of his shop from morning to night.

“I have to come early to get a spot. This has been going on for years.

“It really affects our business. Customers who cannot find parking complain to us all the time,” he said.

Teo, who owns an auto parts shop said people would even park in the spot he rented from the council.

“We have to look through a CCTV camera recording to see who it is and search for that person and tell them to remove their car.

“Often, there would be arguments, especially when people double-parked,” he said.

The business owners have requested for parking fees to be imposed from Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6.30pm.

Ng said it would take three months for the system to be implemented.

“Once it is implemented, council officers can issue summonses and tow away cars that are parked illegally,” he said, adding that there were currently 2,174 parking bays under the parking payment system in the municipality.

“A private parking operator manages the fee collection. The company has signed a contract to operate from 2000 to 2020.

“They get to keep 80% of their earnings while 20% goes to the council.

“The council gets 4% from the sale of parking coupons,” he added.