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DBKK Holdings Sdn Bhd is in the process of restoring any missing or faded parking demarcations – including spaces which hadn’t been blocked off for fire-trucks and parking lot numbers which were no longer visible – around commercial properties within City Hall’s rating-area.

The agency, meanwhile, is checking on incidents of illegal parking taking place around an Inanam commercial centre.

This action was prompted by feedback from a Penampang driver and another from Inanam about parking-related grievances in Kingfisher Plaza and the Taipan area, both of which were in Inanam.

The former was dissatisfied about the compound he incurred recently, saying that he had occupied a parking space marked out with yellow lines but whose lot number was missing.

His Inanam counterpart, on the hand, spoke out about the inconvenience caused by vehicles left haphazardly along four roads in the Taipan area, which lay between Jalan Kionsom and Jalan Tuaran.

Both individuals separately provided Hotline with the relevant details, regarding their problems, which were forwarded to DBKK Holdings and City Hall. 

The company, which is the wholly owned investment and commercial arm for the agency, handles the collection of parking charges around the State Capital, including Inanam.

A DBKK Holdings spokesman said an inspection was carried out of Lorong Kingfisher Plaza on the same day that the management learned about what had transpired in this part of the commercial centre.

“The parking lot, where the complainant’s vehicle had been left, was supposed to have been blocked off for the Fire and Rescue Services Department,” he said.

“Fire-trucks are meant to occupy the space in the event that a blaze breaks out in this part of the Plaza as a hydrant has been set up in one part of the pedestrian mall here.”

Owing to this, no parking number had been painted in the lot, according to him.

He said DBKK Holdings personnel noted that the “yellow X” was missing from the parking space in question.

“The roads around Kingfisher Plaza were resurfaced at some point last year. The contractor, responsible for this job, most likely forgot to repaint the ‘X’ in this space.”

On top of this, he said, the company’s staff found that the hydrant was not immediately obvious to drivers, especially those who were not familiar with the location of such amenities at the commercial centre.

“Instead of being placed on the pavement beside the parking lot, the hydrant is actually located several meters away behind the nearest shop.”

He said the unit in question was an eatery.

“The operator has erected a canvas shelter, with a table and some chairs underneath, most likely as an added workspace for his/ her kitchen staff. These items and a bunting with the shop’s name, which hangs down near the parking lot, hide the hydrant from view.” 

He said City Hall’s Enforcement Department (ED) had been apprised of these findings as the compound, left beneath the complainant’s windshield wiper, was issued by one of its staff.

The spokesman said DBKK Holdings technicians restored the “yellow X” to this space and another in Kingfisher Plaza later that afternoon. The same was done for another parking lot at Riverside Plaza nearby, according to him.

“We are in the midst of having the required markings repainted at other commercial centres around Kota Kinabalu and areas outside the City. This work is being carried out in stages.”

An ED spokesman said it was arranging to redress the injustice done to the driver.

A spokesman for the agency’s Licensing Department said it would have to determine if the eatery-owner had received permission to make use of the common area at the back his/ her unit.

“The food operator may be instructed to remove his/ her belongings from this section of the pedestrian mall, if he/ she has not been given the greenlight to do so,” he said.

Where Taipan was concerned, the ED spokesman said it would have to check if the junction between Jalan Kionsom and Lorong Taipan 1 – as well as Lorong KK Taipan 2, Lorong Taipan 28/ 1 and Lorong Taipan – was listed in the agency’s road register.

He said inspections would be made of any of these stretches which belonged to City Hall.

“Our Enforcement officers will not hesitate to penalise vehicle-owners who have left their automobiles in spaces which are not meant for the public.”

He explained that, under City Hall’s Provision of Parking Places By-laws 2014, motorists who left their vehicles in parking spaces not designated for the public were be liable to a compound of up to RM500.

“Motorists can be deemed to have parked illegally, if there is no demarcation painted on either side of the road surface occupied by their vehicles,” he said. “This is regardless of whether their automobiles obstruct the flow of traffic in the area.” 

He said repeat offenders and those who failed to settle their compounds could be taken to court.

“If they are found guilty they risk being slapped with a RM20,000 fine, serving a 12 month-jail term or both.”

He said the relevant parties would be informed to deal with any parking problems which occurred on those roads which were not under the agency’s maintenance.