DBKL rakes in RM20m from parking fees

New parking contractor Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan has helped Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) collect RM20 million in parking fees since mid-2015.

According to a Federal Territories Ministry's parliamentary written reply, the new contractor, appointed on July 1, 2015, was better than previous ones.

The ministry explained that the RM10 million collected by previous contractors was less than the RM17 million per annum cost of running the parking ticket machines.

"This showed that this privatisation effort provided better returns for DBKL.

"Moreover, the technology behind the parking system is modern, systematic and people friendly," said the ministry in the reply to Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai.

Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan appears to have strong Umno links.

Its executive director is Cheras Umno division head Syed Ali Alhabshee while the board of trustees includes Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Umno supreme council member Johari Abdul Ghani, Seputeh Umno division chief Mustapa Kamal Mohd Yusoff, Setiawangsa MP Ahmad Fauzi Zahari and Labuan MP Rozman Isli.

Following the appointment of Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan as DBKL's parking contractors, parking rates in some areas went up by 150 percent.

87,466 vehicles clamped

Meanwhile, in a separate parliamentary written reply, the ministry said DBKL had started wheel-clamping operations since September 2016 and had clamped 87,466 vehicles as of January this year.

In addition, it had towed 7,222 vehicles over the same period.

The ministry said this in a written reply dated March 15 in response to Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun who asked for the figure.

The DAP parliamentarian also asked the ministry to comment on complaints that the parking fees are too high.

The ministry said the new parking rates implemented on July 18, 2016, and revised on July 29, 2016, following public feedback had taken several factors into account.

These include the fact that the parking rates had not been revised since the late 1970s, and the new but higher rates are not excessive compared to other Asian cities.

The rates are also meant to encourage carpooling and the use of public transport, while discouraging drivers from holding a parking spot for too long. -Mkini