MORE shops in Petaling Jaya commercial areas will soon be selling the newly introduced scratch-and-display parking coupons.

“We need to give it some time because our agents who were just appointed end of last month need time to appoint their sub-agents in the city,” said Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Johary Anuar after launching the PJ Smart Waste Solution Lab in SS2.

He said the 16 appointed agents would assist the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) by supplying other sub-agents, such as shopowners, with the parking coupons.

StarMetro reported about the difficulties faced by Petaling Jaya folk in buying the parking coupons and contacting the appointed agents.

Johary said this was probably because the agents were closed or away during the long weekend.

“We are still trying to improve and if there is a problem with the new parking system, we will strive to improve,” he said.

Johary urged shopowners in Petaling Jaya who are interested in becoming agents to visit MBPJ’s finance department to register.

Agents earn a 10% cut from the coupon sales.

“We are receiving many applications so just be patient, more shops will be selling the coupons soon.

“In the meantime, our officers will be more lenient in issuing parking summonses just like before when most of the parking machines were faulty,” he said.

MBPJ officers were advised to refrain from issuing summonses at areas where parking machines were faulty and where there were no coupon agents in sight.

Those who still receive summonses can have it waived at MBPJ, by giving officers the street address where the car was parked.

Johary also reminded motorists that the coupons are an alternative payment and machines can be used to pay for parking as well.

Also at the event was Damansara Utama assemblyman Yeo Bee Yin, who added that buying coupons should not be this difficult or troublesome.

“The coupons should be readily accessible at commercial areas where users can just buy them without hassle,” she said.

Currently, among the places parking coupons can be purchased are at MBPJ’s headquarters, Bukit Gasing assemblyman R. Rajiv’s office at 7A Jalan 52/8 behind Ambank, PJ Old Town and Section 17 commercial area.

[“Source-thestar”]