KK CARPARK, WHO'S NEXT?

WHAT will happen next, when the agreement between the DBKK and its appointed agent/contractor (Wawasan Iktisas Sdn Bhd) for the collection of car parking fees in the Kota Kinabalu City expires on the 2nd of May, 2012?

This question has been raised is because many of the Kota KInabalu people are interested to know what is the DBKK’s plan towards the future management method of the 10,000 over car parks in the KK City.

The car parking system and its fees payment rates were highly debated and disputed by the people. There were many protests and objections on the so called 'privatization' of the car parks in KK by the government. The parking fees were increased to an unaffordable level whereby many car owners refused to pay.

The KK MP Hiew King Cheu wants to know whether the DBKK is having the intention to gain control and to manage the KK City car parking management and fees collection directly on their own, and not to 'sub-contract' out to anyone.

He believes that the DBKK has the capability to handle the simple task of collecting parking fees. The previous arrangement has brought much complaints and grouses from the car owners, and it is time now to put things right.

If DBKK is planning to retrieve the management and the collection of parking fees, are they ready and has prepared every necessary step for the take over? He personally does not want to see that because of DBKK is not ready, and the present contract has to be extended to continue by the previous car park contractor.

The KK MP Hiew continued to comment that there are some ten thousand over parking lots in the KK city, if each car park earns averagely RM5 per day, there will be a rough income of RM50,000 per day in cash. In a month it will be RM1.10 million, and RM13.20 million in a year.

This is a very huge sum and if there is a contractor to share the amount, DBKK will not benefit from the said sum collected. Thus, he said in order to ensure the people’s contribution is fully utilized to benefit the KK folks, and it is viable for the DBKK to carry out the task.

Since the Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman and his assistant Minister Datuk Edward Khoo are in charge of DBKK, the duo must see to it that the KK car park management and fee collection will not be given to any private company but solely by DBKK. MP Hiew also wants the car parking rates to be reduced to at least half of its present rates on all the zones, once DBKK takes over the job. It is a must, because the people had voiced it out long time ago.