I love MPPJ
May 24th, 2006 by boon
Let’s get some publicity. Spread the word. Make some noise.
This article was published in the Star today:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/5/24/central/14249567&sec=central
Fined for nothing
I was in Petaling Jaya Old Town on April 26 to pick up my son from a tuition centre. I paid for a parking ticket marked 9:38am and expiring at 10.38am. I placed the ticket on the dashboard of my car and went to fetch my son.
My son and I returned to the car about half-an-hour later and, to my dismay, found a compound on my car windscreen. The compound was issued at 9.57am.
I tried in vain to look for the officer who issued the compound and then a vendor advised me to go to the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) office to cancel the compound.
I was extremely upset to have to be put through such inconvenience, as I had to rush back and get my son ready for school.
At the MPPJ HQ, I presented the compound and my parking ticket and explained that the issuing officer had erred in giving me a compound when the parking had been paid.
I requested that the summons be cancelled.
The officer told me he couldn’t cancel the compound but offered to reduce the amount.
I was shocked and furious and asked him why I should be penalised when I had paid for the parking.
He said he had no power to cancel the summons and gave me a form and advised me to see one of the three officers in the next MPPJ building.
As I did not have the time to do so, I took the form back, filled it up, scanned a copy of the summons and the parking ticket and faxed them to the number indicated on the form.
Recently, I received a letter from MPPJ dated April 28.
In this letter, the officer who replied made a mistake in referring to my letter dated April 28 when my letter was dated April 26.
The officer indicated that after careful consideration, he could not cancel the summons.
He offered to reduce my compound from RM30 to RM10.
I was given 14 days to pay the compound. Is there any justice in the MPPJ system?
I am appalled at the carelessness of the MPPJ officers from the level of enforcement to the level with executive power.
When proof was presented to them to correct a mistake made, I was told instead to pay a compound when I had obediently paid the parking fee and committed no offence.
I was given the unnecessary run-around when I had done nothing wrong.
The least those in power could do to make things right should be to apologise for the mistake and make it right.
Instead, I was punished for abiding by the law and seeking redress through proper channels.
THE VICTIMISED RAKYAT
Petaling Jaya