KUCHING, July 16: The Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government wants all city halls and municipalities in Sarawak to set up their own traffic warden unit to tackle illegal parking and other traffic violations that obstruct traffic.
Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian emphasised that the authority to enforce traffic regulations had been delegated to local councils during the time of Dato Sri Liow Tiong Lai when he was the then Minister of Transport.
“So it is important for all city and municipal councils in Sarawak to introduce traffic wardens to help enforce traffic regulations.
“While the police force may not have sufficient manpower to monitor traffic offences everywhere, once DBKU (Kuching North City Commission), MBKS (Kuching South City Council), MPP (Padawan Municipal Council), and the rest set up their traffic warden (unit) and trained their officers, hopefully, it will cut down offences and prevent traffic obstruction,” he said.
He highlighted this in a press conference after witnessing the swearing-in ceremony of MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, Deputy Mayor Hilmi Othman and 30 councillors at MBKS Headquarters here today.
In resorting to the carrot-and-stick approach in policy, the Deputy Premier said there is proper and sometimes free parking for the public, and those who refuse to use such a facility and choose to park illegally, especially along the road shoulder, should be fined.
“We want to empower the traffic wardens to issue compounds for offences legally. So let’s all cooperate to build a world-class city by changing our attitude.
“We cannot say we want to be high standard like Singapore, but our behaviour is still that of a ‘jungle’ standard. So all of us have to make a world-class effort, not just the councils or enforcement authorities, but all citizens,” he pointed out.
Dr Sim added that the Ministry would also look into equipping traffic wardens with body cameras to ensure the safety and the protection of all parties, including the public, when it comes to enforcement with evidence.
Earlier, Wee said he was aware of all the illegal parking problems, especially along the roadside in MBKS jurisdiction, which he pledged to look into and work with the police.
“Apart from the King Centre-Tabuan Dayak area, illegal parking along the roadside also occurs at Stutong Market even when the first half hour parking in the enclosed car park is free.
“It is not that the council doesn’t want to enforce the traffic rules and regulations, but if we do, the summons is RM300. But we will look into that,” he added. — DayakDaily
