PETALING JAYA: A terminal for heavy vehicles is being planned in Selayang, Selangor, to help deal with the recurring issue of such vehicles being parked in housing areas.
Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) deputy president Adi Faizal Ahmad Tarmizi made this announcement following a night raid which saw four lorries confiscated at Taman Selayang Mutiara and Taman Garing Gemilang.
“We will look into the possibility of converting vacant government land into parking lots for heavy vehicles.
“Approval for such facilities will be up to the state government.
“The Gombak Land and District Office will then identify which of the vacant government lots can be used for such purposes,” he said.
He added that once a piece of vacant land was identified, a temporary operating licence could be granted.
“Terminals like these can be seen at Jalan Rantau Panjang in Klang and in Pulau Indah,” said Adi Faizal.
He also urged transport and other related associations to step forward and assist if they had the space for such facilities.
In the meantime, he said heavy vehicle drivers must be reminded not to park in housing areas and that enforcement against offenders would continue.
Under the MPS Park Bylaw 7(1) 2005, vehicles heavier than two tonnes are not allowed into housing areas without written approval from the local council.
Those found guilty of violating the law can be fined up to RM1,000.
The night raid last week saw a team of 18 MPS enforcement personnel and six officers dealing with uncooperative lorry drivers.
At one point, the police had to be called in when a heated argument broke out between a lorry driver and an enforcement team member.
Adi Faizal said that while the confiscation of vehicles would disrupt the livelihood of vehicle owners, the local council too had to bear the cost of hiring heavy-duty tow trucks and paying staff overtime.
MPS Enforcement director Ahmad Faisal Badiuzaman explained that the council could no longer turn a blind eye to these parking violations following complaints from the public.
“As of February, we received 20 complaints through our councillors and the public complaints management system (Sispaa).
“The owners and drivers of heavy vehicles are aware of this prohibition, so their vehicles should be left at their place of work.
“Roads in housing areas are too narrow to accommodate the size of these vehicles and are not constructed to withstand their weight.
