Public not happy with design of parking lots at Maong bazaar — PKR Youth wing

KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) Stampin Youth branch yesterday claimed that it had been receiving several public complaints from the Public Crime Watch Group on the newly drawn parking lots at 3rd Mile Maong bazaar after the road resurfacing project was completed.

Its deputy youth chief Jeffery Mok said the main complaint was that the parking lots were too narrow or drawn at an inappropriate angle for cars to park, adding that parking lots were usually slanted – either 90 degrees, 30 degrees or 60 degrees.

In a statement distributed to the media at a press conference at PKR Stampin branch service centre, Mok said Padawan Municipal Council ( MPP) should be aware that it is important to follow procedures to ensure that drivers can park their vehicles with ease.

To illustrate his point, he pointed to the parking lots immediately next to Hon Lee Supermarket at 3rd Mile.

“In view of the narrow road access, the straight parking lots are totally impractical as there is limited space to manoeuvre.

“Even from a layman’s view, it is common that the parking lots should be drawn slanting to render enough space for manoeuvring,” he said.

According to him, most motorists would just ignore the straight parking lots and simply do slant parking and take up two parking lots.

He asked whether MPP provided the contractor with any design for the parking lots.

Mok said two items must be clearly spelt out in the design – whether the parking lots are straight, slanting or parallel and the dimension, and the types of traffic arrows, lines, yellow boxes and other signs that need to be drawn on the road to indicate traffic flow.

He believed that if the contractor was given comprehensive site plans, they would have a clear idea of what needed to be done and not make mistakes.

“The public will also query if any extra costs are incurred for the errors… rectification of these unnecessary errors will be a waste of taxpayers’ money,” he said.