Motorists complain the parking machines only accept coins which made it inconvenient. They also found it difficult to read the small print on the screen. — Picture by Mukhriz Hazim

KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 — The two-hour parking limit and new rates imposed in the city’s central business district yesterday left motorists confused and infuriated.

They were also incensed because the new rates included the upper middle income suburbs of Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Bangsar, Sri Hartamas and Desa Sri Hartamas.

Many were taken aback claiming they were in dark about this coming into force.

Malay Mail checks at metered parking bays along Jalan Changkat Thambi Dollah and Jalan Imbi found motorists struggling to understand the new rates of RM2 for the first hour and RM3 for the second hour.

What further shocked them was the two-hour parking limit imposed.

Nurse Lilly George, 64, and her friend, businesswoman Annie Chew, 62, were met in front of Shaw Parade where they were trying to park their cars.

It took them several minutes to realise the parking fees had increased. They decided to park elsewhere when they found out about the two-hour limit.

“This is crazy. We were going to park here and walk to Berjaya Times Square to save on parking but even the metered parking rates have increased. Even though we understand the government’s intention, RM5 for two hours is just crazy,” Chew said.

Although there are red signs near some of the machines, the parking rates shown were confusing as the machines display both the old and new rates.

A 55-year old retiree, who only wanted to be known as Madam Lai, said she heard about the implementation but was quick to point out that the old rate of 80 sen per hour was still shown on the machines.

“How is this possible? It is confusing, especially to older people with poor eyesight. The words are small on the screen.

“You cannot possibly expect us to squint our eyes to read what is on the screen,” she said.

Commenting on the signage which was erected about five metres from the machine, Lai said she missed it as her eyes was fixated on the machine.

“It would be more relevant to put such notices at eye-level. No one has time to look for a signage first before inserting coins into the machine,” she said.

Accountant Wong Oi Lee, 40, was surprised to see her parking limit would be in an hour’s time after putting in RM3.

“Normally RM4 would last me the whole day. Why is the increase so much? If there is such an increase, it should at least be written out in big fonts so that people know,” she said, adding she did not even notice the new signage above the machines.

Others complained about the inconvenience of the payment options, as the machines only accepted coins and payments via Touch’n Go cards.

Malay Mail found that four out of five parking machines in the Imbi area were faulty as they did not accept Touch’n Go cards but only accepted coins.

Mohd Qaiyum Abdul Rashid, 24, said motorists cannot be expected to carry RM5 worth of coins around every time they want to use the metered parking bays.

“Even if we accept the increased fare, it is still heavy and inconvenient to carry coins around. Maybe they should upgrade the machines and add a feature that will accept notes,” he said.

Three City Hall enforcement officers were seen on patrol in the Changkat Thambi Dollah-Imbi area at 8.45am did a quick check before leaving.

Mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Abdul Aziz yesterday told Malay Mail that 100 enforcement officers would be deployed to the city’s central business district yesterday to ensure motorists follow by the new ruling.

He said the officers would remind motorists about the two-hour limit via loudspeakers throughout the day.