Tuesday July 1, 2008
Parking charges driving away customers at market
By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ
THE expensive pay parking system at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) wet market is causing much inconvenience to both customers and vendors.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) implemented the new parking system with the cooperation of Persatuan Kebajikan Peniaga-Peniaga Kecil Taman Tun Dr Ismail two months ago.
Under the system, those who park there have to pay by the hour. The first hour costs 50 sen and every subsequent hour costs an RM1.
The market had previously adopted a free parking system under which customers could park in the basement and open car park free of charge while the vendors paid RM30 (open air) and RM60 (covered car park) for their respective parking facility.
Expensive: The pay parking at the TTDI wet market is driving away customers, vendors claim.The money was also used to hire guards who ensured that only market customers parked at the parking areas.
Vendors representative Abdul Razak Mat Doaa said the pay parking system had caused the vendors to suffer a 30% to 50% decline in business.
“We want the market to be a convenient place for all customers to shop around without having to worry about parking.
“Why would people come here where there is such an expensive parking system when hypermarkets such Tesco and Giant, with better facilities and environment, have free parking or a minimal parking charge?
“The parking rate has also changed every now and then.
“We would like the parking at the market to be free, like in Cheras and Gombak,” Abdul Razak said during a press conference.
The vendors have collected 100 signatures in support of their disapproval over the system and demand that the DBKL reinstate free parking for market customers.
Abdul Razak has also written to DBKL director-general Datuk Salleh Yusup regarding the matter.
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