One car user, Selvasingam Doraisingam, 26, registered his unhappiness over the steep parking rate hike, claiming he was unaware it was to be implemented yesterday.
Selvasingam said: “This sudden increase has really affected car users. The new rates may seem acceptable to DBKL, but City Hall should consider the people who will be burdened by it. It should consider lowering the rate to help those in the middle and lower-income group.”
Another car user, Liew Wei Chong, 31, shared his frustration with FMT, saying, “I’m frustrated. The increase in parking fee will really affect the middle-class group and car users in KL.
“City Hall must immediately remove this ridiculously high parking fee in Kuala Lumpur. Sooner or later people will lash out and it will not end well. These new parking charges will take a toll on those parking in the city on a daily basis.”
With the country facing an economic downturn, many citizens are angry about the parking fee hike and believe that the authorities should have considered public opinion first before making the unpopular decision.
Vinorra Shanker, 25, who drives to Kuala Lumpur regularly for work-related meetings, said City Hall should consider the views of stakeholders and come up with new parking rates.
“I think it is ridiculous that the fee has been increased by triple the amount. I understand that this was done in order to “encourage use of the new LRT system”, but I feel that it should be done gradually and not forced onto the residents of KL.
“This is another silly and inconsiderate decision by DBKL. In this case, the opinions of the people working and living within the city, who are already burdened by the high cost of living, need to be taken into consideration,” she said.
Frequent road user Yogish Raao Bemaraju, 27, said the parking fee hike was going to be tough on those working and living in the Klang Valley.
“This hike in parking charges is a nightmare for those working in Klang Valley. It’s a horrible move, to be exact. A hike of 50% can still be tolerated but not 150%, especially when our economy is not doing well,” Yogish said.
Klang Valley road users are in general hoping DBKL will reconsider the 150% hike in parking charges in areas like Bukit Bintang, Bukit Damansara, Sri Hartamas, Desa Hartamas, Solaris Mont Kiara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Bangsar.
The move DBKL said, was aimed at reducing congestion in the city and to encourage carpooling.