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CITY HALL is cracking down on incidents of illegal parking taking place at an Inanam commercial centre and in one part of the State Capital, following feedback from two drivers about the inconvenience such inconsiderate acts caused at both locations.

The first spoke out about the inconvenience caused by vehicles left haphazardly along four roads in the Taipan area of Inanam, which lay between Jalan Kionsom and Jalan Tuaran.

The second, meanwhile, bemoaned the jam which occasionally formed at a section of Jalan Gaya, during office hours, because the many vehicles double-parked outside a bank narrowed the width of the stretch.

Both individuals separately provided Hotline with the relevant details, regarding their grievances, which were forwarded to the agency.

A spokesman for the agency’s Enforcement Department said its personnel had periodically been keeping an eye on the junction between Jalan Kionsom and Lorong Taipan 1, as well as Lorong KK Taipan 2 and Lorong Taipan.

“A total of seven motorists were compounded for encroaching on these Inanam roads during these inspections,” he said. 

“They had narrowed the width of both stretches by parking on one of the two lanes here.” 

He said four Enforcement personnel went down to the Taipan area at different times of the day in a bid to deter incidents of illegal parking.

“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.

“This is regardless of whether their automobiles obstruct the flow of traffic in the area.” 

Under the agency’s (Provision of Parking Places) By-laws 2014, those who leave their vehicles in undesignated parking spaces could be liable to a compound of up to RM500, according to him.

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, according to him.

He said the Department had initially been that motorists were also leaving their automobiles haphazardly on Lorong Taipan 28/1.

“We are helpless to mitigate the parking woes on this road as it does not belong to us. We have apprised the management for the commercial centre about this problem and have urged them to take the appropriate action.”

Where Jalan Gaya was concerned, the spokesman said two Enforcement staff went down to section outside Agrobank, shortly after being contacted by the media.

“A Hilux was spotted on the divider in one instance. But, the owner came out and moved his vehicle away before a compound could be issued.”

He said the individual was given a stern warning not to occupy the common areas around the neighbourhood in this manner again.

In light of the feedback about the congestion in this part of the City, he said the Department would step up its surveillance of the traffic situation near the bank.

“Our officers have been asked to make checks daily at different times of the morning and afternoon to minimise the nuisance created to the public.”

LESTARI of Inanam said the traffic situation around Taipan had gradually been going from bad to worse.

“For years, I have noticed vehicles, including lorries, left willy-nilly along many of the roads here,” she said.

She personally relayed his observations to City Hall in January, hoping that its officers would come down and compound the errant automobile owners.

To date, however, the drivers were still parking on the side of stretches around the commercial centre, according to Lestari. 

“When I asked City Hall staff why this was so, I was told that these roads did not belong to the agency. I was advised to take up my grievance with the management company for Taipan.”