Shoppers tussle with Taipan businesses over parking lots

Motorists complain that it is almost impossible to find parking space in the Taipan area. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Basil Foo, April 21, 2015.

Parking woes remain seemingly unabated in USJ 10, which is also known as the Taipan business centre, with double-parking still rampant along its streets.

Home to various consumer goods and services, such as food outlets, banks and a gym, the Subang Jaya neighbourhood in Selangor attracts not only nearby residents but also those from other areas.

In a bid to deal with the parking issue, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has allowed business operators to rent the council’s parking lots.

Some residents have questioned if this was a wise move as it would take away an already limited supply of parking spaces from the public.

“There is no reason for MPSJ to allow shop owners to take up more than one parking lot as a ‘reserved’ lot in front of their shops,” said Subang Jaya resident Lau Bing.

In a letter to TMI, Lau said that businesses should not be reserving more than one lot each, as there was a critically limited number of parking spaces in the area.

To make matters worse, some businesses were seen to be illegally reserving the parking lots in front of their premises by blocking the lot using furniture.

“The usual offence committed by businesses is putting chairs or tables on public parking lots, causing the public to run out of places to park,” said MPSJ corporate communications officer Muhammad Azli Miswan.

He told The Malaysian Insider that the public could lodge a complaint with the council over businesses operators who illegally blocked parking lots.

Some business operators have resorted to illegally 'booking' parking spaces. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Basil Foo, April 21, 2015.He said the offenders could be fined or have their equipment seized.

When asked if it was fair for some shops to rent more than one lot, Azli said: “Rental of lots are issued based on the activity carried out by the business.”

Restaurant supervisor Tang You Lee who has been working for eight years in the Taipan area said it was the right of businesses to rent more than one lot.

“Two are not enough. During rush hour, lunch or dinner, a restaurant can’t be expected to have only two tables of customers,” he said.

- TMI