Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) candidate for Luyang, Gee Tien Siong, announced a concrete plan to immediately open the exit boom gates of the Foh Sang multi-storey car park if elected, effectively making parking fully free.
He said this move would ensure the public facility truly benefits traffic flow and commercial activity in Foh Sang, Bornion Centre and the wider Luyang area.
Gee said data shows that making the car park free is “entirely affordable” for the government.
The facility’s estimated operating cost is only RM20,000 a month, an amount he compared to the spending for a single large-scale event such as the Kota Kinabalu Countdown (KCD2025), which he said could fund the car park’s operations for up to 30 years.
“Instead of spending on temporary grandeur, it is better to bring long-term benefits to residents and merchants,” he said.
Gee added that the car park currently earns about RM15,000 a month under the “RM1 per hour, 24/7” system, indicating a vacancy rate of up to 90 per cent.
“Charging fees leads to empty bays, which is a waste of resources. Making it free will ease traffic, increase usage, and bring more customers to Foh Sang and Bornion Centre,” he said.
He described the move as a “multi-win solution” — reducing the need for drivers to circle for cheaper parking while boosting footfall for local businesses.
Gee also highlighted that the plan aligns with the original vision of the late Datuk Terence Chong, who intended the car park to serve as an integrated hub for Luyang residents.
Apart from free parking, the building could also host City Hall service counters to improve public convenience.
