Nurul Izzah: Halt parking fee hike until after town hall meeting

The Lembah Pantai MP urges DBKL to have a town hall meeting with relevant parties to discuss its master plan.

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah has urged the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to impose a moratorium (temporary halt on activities) on the increase of parking fees until City Hall conducts a town hall meeting with relevant parties to explain its master plan.

Speaking at a press conference at the DBKL headquarters here today, Nurul said Kuala Lumpur Members of Parliament were not consulted before the decision was made.

“We were forced to accept Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan’s decision on the increase in parking fees as he had not consulted any of us beforehand,” she said.

She added that during the meeting with KL Mayor Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz on the matter, he had informed them that it was the Land Public Transport Commission’s (SPAD) decision to increase parking fee.

“There are more than 10 agencies responsible for land public transport in the country. Don’t tell me that only after making this decision DBKL is going to consult them one by one.”

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who was also present at the press conference, said the reason given for the increase in parking fees was to encourage people to use public transport, and this showed that the decision makers had no idea of the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of public transport in the country.

“Those who made the decision for the people of KL stay in air-conditioned rooms, and have their own drivers, while in countries like England, even their prime minister goes to work by train.

“How can people who live in such luxuries make these kind of policies for the everyday people? We find it a burden to the rakyat,” she said.

“So I urge the minister to come to KL via public transport and see whether there’s a bus that can take him from his house to DBKL.”

Kuala Krai MP Hatta Ramli, who was present, said the majority of KL residents were average income earners.

“The higher ups have to understand that when we are talking about KL residents, we are not talking about rich people. The majority of the residents in KL are either poor, or earn average incomes and when you make policies like this, it takes an even bigger toll on their already pinched livelihoods,” he said.

Others present at the press conference included Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Batu MP Tian Chua, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, Kepong MP Tan Seng Giaw and Wangsa Maju MP Tan Kee Kwong.