Focus remains on new parking system: Mayor
Published on: Friday, October 31, 2014
KOTA KINABALU: Suggestions to improve the coupon parking system are still welcome with City Hall indicating an extension of the grace period from Nov 1. Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir (pic) on Thursday reiterated that City Hall's focus would remain on use of the new system, saying however they would be "reasonable" when the full implementation begins. "What is important is that the people understand the new parking system. We must make sure the people fully understand the parking system. ADVERTISEMENT "So if they have yet to fully adopt the system, there is a possibility that City Hall will extend the grace period," said Madingkir on the sidelines of City Hall's Meet-the-People session, here. "But during this session, we had only received three queries and all of them were not related to loopholes (on the coupon parking system), more on how to use the scratch coupon," said Madingkir, assuming the public had understood the use of the scratch-card coupons. Vehicle owners had, on Oct 1, been told of a month's grace period, ending Nov 1, during which time Friendly Notice Reminders would be issued to adopt the new system. City Hall also indicated compounds would be issued to vehicle owners who do not display the coupons once the grace period is over. Concerns over the strict approach of City Hall on the four-week-old system had been raised previously. However, Madingkir maintained, City Hall will be reasonable and is willing to listen to suggestions and make good use of the inputs. ADVERTISEMENT Such instances include providing a grace period to vehicle owners to settle dues if they were found to have parked over the time limits as stated on the coupons, and if they refused City Hall would compound them. However, Madingkir also expressed worry that some vehicle owners will abuse such leniency, for example, "if one keeps repeating despite receiving constant reminders, then their motive could be that they are trying to abscond from us (City Hall)."
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On another issue, Madingkir said questions over the higher rate of the new system charges are matters which should be discussed internally. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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He also reminded vehicle owners to pay up their outstanding parking ticket dues before notices are issued to them. "They need to do it now before we decide to charge them in court. For now they will only be charged on ticket value," he said. It is understood vehicle owners owe up to RM7 million on parking ticket dues.