Residents claim the lorries were parked by the roadside and infront of their houses, causing traffic congestion.- Courtesy pic
Residents claim the lorries were parked by the roadside and infront of their houses, causing traffic congestion.- Courtesy pic

SELAYANG: Residents of Taman Selayang Mutiara here are pleading for action to be taken against a group of stubborn lorry drivers who indiscriminately park their heavy vehicles in the housing area.

Residents claim the lorries were parked by the roadside and infront of their houses, causing traffic congestion.

The situation worsened in recent years following the increased frequency of lorry drivers utilising the housing area at night and early morning.

Checks by Harian Metro around the housing area and neighbourhood found that there were at least five five-tonne lorries parked by the roadside and on the curb in front of houses so much so that it disrupts traffic flow.

A resident who only wished to be known as Ahmad, 64, said that he was made to understand that the lorries in the housing area belong to a group of individuals who rent one of the houses there.

Ahmad said the house could be utilised as a transit centre for the lorry drivers.

"I do not want to get into an argument with them. Last time I did ask them not to park the lorries here, but they just ignored me.

"They can leave the engines running for a long time leading to noise and air pollution, apart from the fact that they often do work late into the night, all of which gives us sleepless nights.

"It can get quite noisy on most nights, so those who have babies and very young children end up disturbed," he said.

Another resident, who only wished to be known as Chun, said he had told the group of lorry drivers a few times not to make noise or cause a ruckus late at night. But his pleas were ignored.

Chun who is in his 50's, said that most of the residents of Taman Selayang Mutiara were fed up of arguing with the group.

"I work in a workshop on a daily basis where I have to listen to the sound and noise of engines. Then now when I get home after a long, hard day at work, I have to listen to the sound of lorries as well. How am I to rest which I can't even in my own home, as the lorries outside are noisy.

"They do as they please and have no consideration or courtesy for others. Late at night and in the wee hours of the morning they will be loading and unloading the things or items that they carry and transport. We can't sleep."

Meanwhile, one of the lorry drivers, Zaharmi Razali, 46, said that they were forced to park the lorries near the residents' houses for fear of theft.

Zaharmi said in 2015, one of his lorries ended up stolen.

He said that this was the reason behind the decision to park the lorries in front of the houses.

"I have been working in this field of transportation services for close to thirty years, since I was a 16-year-old boy. I park my lorries in front of the houses because I do not want my property, my belongings to get stolen.

"These are my own lorries, and I use the lorries to provide transportation services.

"Last time one lorry was stolen, and mind you buying a lorry is not cheap, the deposit alone is a minimum of RM18,000, and even though there is insurance to help cover the lost, the deposit that I paid for the lorry still went up in smoke when it was stolen from me.

"So I hope the relevant authorities can give due consideration regarding this matter and help us out too."