Parking space is scarce in the Klang Valley and some motorists spend valuable time going round and round getting a spot. Some people are adding to the problem by hogging these lots. StarMetro visited several areas in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya to see the situation first-hand.

karrwei@thestar.com.my

PARKING, or the lack of it, has always been a problem in Petaling Jaya.

At commercial areas, the problem worsens during working hours as some shop owners or business operators have put up barriers to “reserve” the parking lots.

Not right: A car accessory shop along SS21/35 in Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, has a reserved parking bay in front of its shoplot but has placed a noparking sign to prevent cars form parking at nearby lots.

The culprits are mostly car repair shops that have one rented lot from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) but reserve the other lots to accommodate their customers.

They would put items like traffic cones, small signboards or even plastic containers at the lots to prevent the public from parking there.

From 5pm onwards, food outlets would start to do the same either to reserve parking for their customers or to place tables and chairs.

Businessman Kamal Harun, 40, said these irresponsible people were depriving the public of parking spaces.

“To start with, there is a lack of parking space in commercial areas like Damansara Uptown and SS2. This leads to the double and triple parking menace that many have resorted to doing,” said Kamal.

He appealed to the MBPJ to step up enforcement to prevent the parking lots from being hogged.

Rampant practice: A car repair shop in SS21/35, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, has placed plastic containers to prevent the public from parking at nearby lots.

MBPJ public relations officer Zainun Zakaria said those who wanted to rent the seasonal lots must apply to the council.

“Usually, they can apply for one lot but it also depends on the type of business and the location of the lot applied for,” she said.

The lots could be rented for loading and unloading of goods and entrance to car repair or service shops.

A temporary rental will be granted for renovation work or storage of construction materials.

Parking spaces that have been rented out will be painted with red lines with the file reference number.

“There have been cases where shop owners have painted the red lines on their own. If we get reports, the enforcement department will be notified and they will take action,” Zainun said.

She said car repair shops were not allowed to put barriers on parking lots and they must rent them from the council if they require the extra lots.

There are about 160 parking lots that have been rented out in PJ, accounting for 7.3% of the total number of lots.

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