Source: The Star 28-10-2015

No excuse for misuse

Blue parking lots off limits to able-bodied hoggers  (Information on how to apply for OKU Sticker is highlighted in RED in the article.)

The next time you see a car parking lot painted bright blue, spare a thought for the disabled.

A total of 38 parking lots on Penang island will be painted blue in the next few months and the project is expected to be completed next month.

The RM9,500 project is carried out by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to provide accessible parking space for disabled drivers.

MBPP councillor Chris Lee Chun Kit said the lots were painted in bright blue to ensure that other road users would not misuse the space.

“There are a lot of motorists who use the parking lots meant for the disabled, and they give a lot of excuses for using the space. This is why we decided to carry out the project.

“The lots are painted blue because it is the universal colour for the disabled.

“Those without an OKU sticker on their vehicle will not be allowed to park. If they do so, the car will either be towed away or compounded.

“These individuals would then need to pay the RM100 fine.

“It would be just like any other illegal parking,” he said during a press conference at Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah yesterday.

Lee said MBPP would train its enforcement personnel to recognise the different OKU stickers issued by the other states.

“It doesn’t matter if you are not from Penang. If you have a valid OKU sticker, you can park here,” he said.

The OKU parking space in Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah is the first to be painted blue by the MBPP yesterday.

In Penang, disabled drivers who are issued the OKU car stickers by the MBPP for free, can park their vehicles at any of the MBPP parking lots.

Those who wish to apply for the OKU parking stickers need to present their OKU card issued by the Welfare Department, identification card, driver’s licence, car registration card and a passport-size photograph.

They can apply for the stickers at the MBPP office in Komtar. For details, contact 04-2613605 or 04-2613605.

A check with Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) councillor Dr Tiun Ling Ta, showed that a similar effort was also carried out on the mainland.

“Since early last year, MPSP has enforced a policy that every new development must ensure that there is one parking spot for the disabled for every 50 parking spots.

“Currently, we have 48 parking slots for the disabled in Seberang Prai,” he said when contacted yesterday.