Kota Kinabalu: Law-abiding road users in Kota Kinabalu praised City Hall (DBKK) enforcement officers for clamping down on illegal parking during public holidays, saying reckless drivers who double park and block designated spaces have long been a source of frustration.
The action included towing away vehicles parked indiscriminately along public roads.
“These drivers park anywhere they like during public holidays as if the rules do not apply to them,” said a motorist, Thomas.
“We are glad DBKK is taking stern action because law-abiding citizens should not have to suffer because of others,” he said.
Thomas noted that the problem was particularly common during public holidays, when some motorists appeared to treat traffic regulations as optional.
Double parking along roads was singled out as a recurring offence that frequently blocked vehicles parked legitimately in designated bays.
Another motorist, Saiful, shared a similar experience, saying the aggressive behaviour of some offenders made the situation worse.
“I had to wait more than 10 minutes honking for someone to move their car and instead of coming out to apologise, they shouted at me,” he said.
“It is very stressful and unfair to those of us who park properly,” he said.
Saiful added that the problem did not stop at honking. Even if other drivers or members of the public approached these offenders politely and asked them to move their vehicles, some would respond by scolding and shouting rudely, showing no regard for those they were inconveniencing.
Some displayed the middle finger at those who confronted them. Other offenders also attempted to deflect responsibility by claiming they had left their phone numbers on their dashboards, while there are those who insist they had only stopped briefly to visit nearby shops.
Clara said the conduct of such drivers caused genuine discomfort to law-abiding citizens and welcomed DBKK’s decision to tow away illegally parked vehicles.
“We pay for proper parking and follow the rules, so it is only right that those who do not face consequences,” she said.
“DBKK should keep doing this, not just during public holidays but every day,” she added.
