Wednesday July 1, 2009

Group against higher parking charges

By PRIYA MENON

PARKING at Pandan Capital in Ampang, for even five minutes, can prove to be a costly affair.

Retailers at Pandan Capital recently held a protest against the RM1 increase in parking charges here recently. Now their customers have to pay RM3 just to park for a while.

Businessman Law Eat Boon, 36, said sales had dropped by 30% since the price increase was implemented in January this year.

“I have many dealers and suppliers from out of town as well. Before I can even conduct business with them, they already lose money,” he said.

Unhappy lot: Leong (fourth from right) with the retailers who were protesting against the increase in parking charges at Pandan Capital in Ampang.

Janet Kee, the Esquire Kitchen manager said that customers to the eatery were complaining about the parking fee.

“Some of them come to pack food and this only takes five to 10 minutes but they have to pay so much,” she said.

Kee added that their restaurant caters to families who come in big groups and in different cars and as such they incur higher costs for parking.

Hairdresser, Choo Mun Keat, from Kafei Hair Salon, said that due to a drop in customers, he offered some promotions but that these failed to attractmore customers.

“I have now reduced my charges for a haircut to RM12 from RM20. I cannot carry on any longer if the customers stop coming,” he said.

The retailers have channelled their problems to Cindy Leong, the special officer to Pandan MP Datuk Ong Tee Keat.

“We have been receiving many complaints from retailers as well as residents about the parking system,” she said.

Leong said the parking fees in Pandan Capital was RM3 but the lots next to this cost RM1 or RM2.

“This place is the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council’s (MPAJ). They should not be subletting it to a private company,” she said.

Leong said that MPAJ should place parking meters in the area, adding that MPAJ president Datuk Mohammad Yacob should step in to resolve the problem.

She has collected over 200 signatures from retailers and customers who are objecting to the priceincrease.

“All we want is a standard price in the whole of Ampang or parking meters,” she said.

When contacted, MPAJ’s public relations officer Norhayati Ahmad said the area does not belong to them and is managed by a management committee appointed by the developer.

However, Hayati said there are 50 parking bays behind the building which has been given to MPAJ and which are free.

She said there are also 20 parking lots near and inside the building for which MPAJ does not charge.

“As it is owned by a private developer, the retailers have to forward their complaints to them,” she said.

According to Hayati, the contractors hired by MPAJ only charge RM0.60 per hour.