Zolkhoari (third from right) and Azman (in red batik shirt) during the launch of the paid parking system at the hawker centre in Bandar Sri Permaisuri. — Photos: LOW BOON TAT/ The Star
BANDAR Sri Permaisuri’s hawker centre in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur has implemented a new parking system to address the long-standing issue of vehicles being parked there for extended periods.
This practice had led to a shortage of parking for customers and loss of business to the hawkers since 2013.
Bandar Sri Permaisuri Hawkers Association chairman Zolkhoari Abdul Aziz said most of the parking bays were previously occupied by nearby residents, with some vehicles left there for two to three days at a time.
“Abandoned cars have also taken up parking bays for years,” he said.
The centre has 68 parking bays, including three reserved for the disabled (OKU) drivers and one for the Fire and Rescue Department.
Parking spaces for the hawker centre were previously occupied by vehicles for extended periods.
There are 34 hawkers operating at the centre.
An ikan bakar trader, who only wanted to be known as Tengku Ahmad, said commuters accessing the LRT Salak Selatan station would also park their vehicles there.
“When traders arrive at 6am before the shops open, most of the parking bays are already occupied.
“Customers arriving later would drive around searching for a spot until they become frustrated and leave.
“When there are no available parking bays, some customers double park.
“This often leads to arguments with traders having to step in and mediate,” he said.
Recently, the association started putting warning letters on cars parked for extended periods and images of this went viral.
After that, the relevant authorities took action and a company was appointed to manage parking, said Tengku Ahmad.
“We are very relieved because everyone has to protect their rice bowl and several traders had even gone bankrupt,” he said after the launch of the paid parking system at the hawker centre.
Parking now costs RM1 for the first hour and the subsequent hour, RM5 for up to three hours and RM40 for up to four hours with a maximum rate of RM40 daily.
For parking exceeding 24 hours, RM100 is charged. The fine to unclamp cars is RM50.
Bandar Tun Razak PKR branch chief Datuk Azman Abidin, who represented Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at the launch, said following complaints about the decline in business due to parking issue at the hawker centre, his office called for a meeting with relevant parties and the paid parking system was introduced.
He believes this would help increase visitors to the centre.
