Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

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Complaint filed against ‘high parking fee’ at Taman Kereta Posted: 06 Oct 2014 03:46 AM PDT A formal complaint has been lodged against a corporation that increased the parking rates by more than 100 per cent at Taman Kereta, Jalan Bukit Mata here. Delivering the document to the state Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK), state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the hike was implemented after the opening of the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC). "The operation cost to maintain the carpark has not increased, so how do they justify the more than 100 per cent increase in parking fees? "By taking advantage of the demand for carparks due to the opening of the UTC and increasing the parking rates by such a huge margin, this is surely a form of profiteering which contravenes the provisions of Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act, 2011," he told reporters after handing over the complaint to state KPDNKK assistant director Abd Hafidz A Rahim at the ministry's office here yesterday. Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said carpark users had to pay RM2 for the first two hours and RM2 for every subsequent hour while neither daily rate nor seasonal rate was offered. Prior to the new parking rate, he said users paid RM2 for the first two hours, RM1 for the subsequent hour and thereafter 50 sen for every half an hour. "Not only is there an increase of 100 per cent in parking rate from RM1 per hour to RM2 per hour, it also marks a 260 per cent increase from RM5 to RM18 for those who previously paid the daily rate. And this RM18 is for 10 hours only based on the standard working hours from 8am to 5pm. It may go up to a maximum of RM22 for 24 hours. "As for those who previously paid season parking rate of RM96.50 per month, taking an average of 20 working days in a month, this entails an increase of 270 per cent increase in parking fee." He noted the ministry did not hesitate to take action against hawkers or traders who raised the prices of their goods or services by 10 to 20 per cent. "I am sure this case will be one of the most justifiable cases for investigation and action on profiteering activity. If no action is taken against the corporation, the general public will perceive your department as condoning such an act." He added "it is the policy and calls of the government to discourage the business sector to increase prices unreasonably". Following the recent 20 sen hike in RON 95 and diesel, Chong said many people "are already finding the high cost of living unbearable" and hence the corporation should not be allowed to further burden consumers. Quoting Section 14 of the act, he said: "Any person who, in the course of trade or business, profiteers in selling or offering to sell or supplying or offering to supply any goods or services commits an offence. For the purpose of this act, 'profiteer' means making profit unreasonably high." When approached by reporters, Hafidz of KPDNKK said it would take a minimum of two weeks for his men to take any action, be it a response to Chong or a solution to the . "I will need to go through the complaint first and then respond accordingly. Usually, it takes two weeks for us take an action," said Hafidz. Among those present were Stampin MP Julian Tan, Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong and Batu Kawa assemblywoman Christina Chiew. on Borneo Post (4/10/2014)

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