FT Minister’s objection allowed

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court allowed a preliminary objection raised by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor that the increase in parking charges is a policy decision by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), in a judicial review application filed by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and a consumer association.

The court also struck out the minister and DBKL as a party in the hearing of the review application, which was filed by Kok to nullify the increase in parking charges.

However, High Court judge Datin Azizah Nawawi did not allow the preliminary objection on only one ground sought by Kok, which is on the appointment of a company, Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan, to manage and collect parking fees. Azizah then fixed June 13 to hear the matter. “The court has struck out the minister because the decision was made by the mayor and not the minister,” said deputy public prosecutor Mazlifah Ayob.

Kok and the Selangor and Federal Territories Consumers Association president Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman filed the application on Oct 7, 2016, naming Tengku Adnan, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz and DBKL as parties, claiming that the increase in parking charges was unduly high.

They sought to quash an order dated July 13, 2016, to increase parking charges at public parking places, an order to appoint Syarikat Vista Summerose Sdn Bhd to manage and collect fees and to quash an order to use parking fee machines, which charges “block fees” for one hour instead of one minute.