‘Caretaker’ solicits RM3 parking fee at controversial ‘Kancil car park’

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AFTER all the brouhaha over the controversial ‘Kancil car park’, it seems the building is finally opened to the public — albeit illegally.

A check by the Starprobe team yesterday found no fewer than 20 cars parked on the ground floor of the three-storey building at the foot of Penang Hill.

Caught in the act: Cars parked on the ground floor inside the controversial 'Kancil car park' where an elderly man appears to be on guard

An elderly ‘caretaker’, believed to be a foreigner, was seen stationed near the back entrance to collect ‘parking fees’ from motorists. The front entry is barricaded.

“Tiga ringgit (RM3),” he told our reporter and photographer as he walked up to them after allowing them into the building where they parked their vehicle on the ground floor.

There were at least 20 cars parked nearby but none on the upper floors.

But then again, the building has yet to be issued a certificate of fitness (CF) following criticisms from various quarters over its poor design structure.

The RM5mil car park, which has remained closed despite its completion in May this year, has come under fire for having very steep ramps, low ceilings and parking bays said to be only suitable for small cars.

What’s more, the project is still under investigation by a special three-member committee set up by the state government to identify weaknesses in its implementation.

Behind the row of parked cars on the ground floor is a ramp with the no entry sign above it

In fact, the post of chairman of the committee probing the project is also a subject of contention as three heads had been changed in just three weeks.

Yet the latest saga surrounding the ‘illegal opening’ of the car park has added a new twist to the affair.

With barely a week to the Deepavali celebrations next Wednesday, holidaymakers and tourists are bracing for another massive parking problem as the car park has yet to be officially opened.

Penang Development Corporation’s (PDC) subsidiary PDC Consultancy Sdn Bhd is solely responsible for the design, tender and contract management of the car park.

PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar confirmed the car park was not opened yet as it did not have a CF and was still under investigation.

“I’m not aware that people had parked inside. They are doing it at their own risk,” he said, adding he would investigate the matter.

Rosli also said it was also illegal for anyone to ask for a fee.

“We have never authorised anyone to collect parking fees,” said Rosli, who is also PDC Consultancy chairman.