Bukit Assek rep calls for review of ‘outrageous’ new parking rates at Airport

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SIBU: Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang alleged that the recent hike in the car parking rates at Sibu Airport was too much and a burden to the locals.

In a press statement yesterday, she said since Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd, a government-linked company, took over the parking management this month it has caused discontentment, especially among the outbound passengers on business day trips.

She said the new rates for the Autopay Car Park was RM2 for the first hour; it was RM1.50 before.

She said each subsequent hour of parking remained unchanged at RM1.00, but, the daily rate was hiked to RM24 (Maximum charge per day) from the previous RM15.

“The penalty for lost card is RM50. Season parking for staff members is RM20. For the first 10 minutes and motorcycles, parking is free.”

Prior to this, she said the management was outsourced to the Peninsula-based company Sun Parking Sdn Bhd.

She said it was taken back by Malaysia Airports this month, and there had been a hike  of 30 per cent in fees for the first hour and  60 per cent for the daily rate.

She said the first 10 minutes of free parking also seemed to be no longer available as well as season parking for staff members at RM20.

Previously, she said the car park was opened from 6 am to 12 am daily and in spite of the maximum of 18 hours, a car would only incur the maximum charge of RM15.00 per day.

“Malaysia Airport Sdn Bhd is now charging a daily rate of RM24.00 although there is no notice on the number of hours a car can park there to incur the daily rate.

“This hike is outrageous profiteering.  The massive increment of RM9 is a burden to those on day trips and are compelled to leave their cars there for the whole day.

“This hike is especially unreasonable as they should have been reduced since the management is no longer outsourced to a third party.

“The hike on the first hour and the cancellation of the first free 10 minutes are adding on to the problem of indiscriminate and illegal parking,”  said the assemblywoman.

Instead of encouraging proper parking, she said this would force drivers to park along the roads and hinder the smooth flow of traffic, adding to peak time congestion.

“Sibu Airport was already handling 1,469,341 passengers in 2016. I call on the authorities to look into this and urge Malaysia Airport Sdn Bhd to be sensitive in this challenging economic weather.

“Do not to cash in by doubling the car-park charges overnight.”