Lower parking fees

At the State Cabinet meeting on October 10, Chief Minister Musa Aman requested DBKK to revise  the parking rates around the city. A similar call was made by his Deputy, Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology, Dr. Yee Moh Chai recently.

Mayor Abidin Madingkir responded by reducing the parking rates for all types of car parks in and outside the Central Business District (CBD) areas under City Hall management by 30 - 34 percent effective 1st November.

This reduction will affect 10, 719 parking bays under the City Hall's jurisdiction.

At a press conference at the City Hall yesterday, Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir disclosed that the new rates are among the lowest in the country.

According to Madingkir, the new rates are divided into four areas under the jurisdiction of the City Hall -Type A, B, C, and C1. Types A, B and C involves parking lots in the central business district (CBD) and B and C1 involves bays outside the Central Business District (OCBD).

Type A car parks are those located along the front of shop lot buildings in the CBD area. They are considered as short-term parking spaces. Under the revised rate, the charge for type A parking will be reduced from 25 cents to 20 cents for the first and second 30 minutes for a vehicle parked from 9am to 10am. Parking from 10 to 11 am at type A lots will cost 35 cents instead of 50 cents. The subsequent rates from 11 am to 5 pm will be reduced to RM1.40 from RM2. Whole day parking (9 am to 5 pm) will now cost RM20.70, from the previous rate at RM 29.50

Type B lots are categorised as medium term parking spaces. They are designed for motorists who do not need to park for a long period of time in the CBD or outside CBD (OCBD) areas. The present rate ranging from 25 - 50 cents will be reduced to 20 cents per 30 minutes for the period between 9 am and 12 pm. From 12 pm to 5 pm, parking will cost 50 cents instead of 70 cents per 30 minutes. Whole day parking will now cost RM7.20 instead of RM10.90.

Type C parking spaces are categorised as long-term parking. These spaces are usually located away from buildings. They are designed for those working in the CBD area. For type C parking lots, the revised rates would see parking cost reduced to 35 cents from 50 cents per 30 minutes from 9 am to 5 pm. Whole day parking will cost RM3.85 instead of RM5.50.

C1 parking lots are considered long-term parking spaces around the OCBD areas. These  are lots normally located in areas behind buildings or open spaces. Type C1 lots are designed for those working in the OCBD areas. Parking in these lots will now cost 35 cents instead of 50 cents per 30 minutes from 9 am to 5 pm. Whole day parking will be reduced to RM3.15 from RM 4.50.

"I hope that the reduction in parking rates would ease the burden of vehicle owners," Madingkir said.

Also present at the press conference was Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology, Dr. Yee Moh Chai. Dr. Yee who is also Api-Api Assemblyman, thanked the Mayor for working out the schedule of new rates so comprehensively and promptly following the Chief Minister's request.

"I understand the area concerned is very large and I must acknowledge the efficiency of City Hall in coming up with the new scheme in a short period." he said.

Dr. Yee also took the opportunity to urge private parking operators to emulate the decision and action of City Hall following the State  government's directive to reduce their parking rates.

"This is in line with the government's effort to serve  the people above all other interests. Let's hope the private sector operators will do likewise," he said. -Insight Sabah