LETTERS: Recently, there was a viral video where a woman found her car scratched after refusing to pay RM15 to parking touts in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
I am familiar with the area as I frequent it for work. Sometimes, I am left with no choice but to pay the touts, who behave like gangsters to drivers who do not pay up. Most probably they act that way as they have been operating there with impunity all this while.
While I felt disheartened that another lady driver found her car scratched, I was also relieved that after the video went viral, many Malaysians were outraged at the incident.
This includes the new Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dr Zaliha Mustafa who swiftly instructed Kuala Lumpur City Hall to step up surveillance against parking touts.
And guess what? When I visited the area recently, I did not find a single tout! Well done City Hall and Dr Zaliha.
Now that federal territories affairs come under the purview of a specific minister as opposed to being under the prime minister before this, such development is a positive one.
At the same time, I hope that more attention will be given to other issues, especially insufficient parking, which is faced daily by city visitors and residents.
Based on Dr Zaliha's track record, she is someone who has no problems rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty to get things done.
The next challenge now is for City Hall to ensure that the touts do not return.
I hope City Hall will remain vigilant against those who act against the public interest.
After all, the main purpose of City Hall is to better protect the welfare of city dwellers.
SUSAN LIM SIEW YEN
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
