Thumbs down to hourly parking rate at Selayang Hospital

Newly implemented parking fees at an open area serving Selayang Hospital is unjustified and a burden to the public, say local activists.

The hospital introduced parking fees on June 1 this year, at a rate of RM2 per hour.

Parking in the open area, popular with visitors and those seeking outpatient treatment, has previously been free.

The hospital had planned to implement the fees at the end of last year, but held off until now due to complaints from the patients.

Community activist Yee Poh Ping said the fees were unreasonable as cars were only parked in the open space outside the hospital and not within its compound.

“Before this, the open carpark was free. Now, they have installed an autogate system with cashless payment to prevent unauthorised entry.

“The only cost involved is installing the machine, which can be recouped very fast,” he said.

Yee said as most people parking in the area were visitors or those seeking outpatient treatment, it was unfair that they had to pay such a high amount.

He said people from the area were not against the implementation of parking fees but simply sought a flat entry rate instead.

“If they charge RM2 per entry, instead of per hour, that is understandable.

“To charge an hourly rate now is a big burden to visitors and outpatients here,” he said during a site visit.

He said most of those frequenting the hospital were from the low to middle-income group and many were senior citizens.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) head of the complaints and welfare bureau Lee Hoi Eng also questioned the privatisation of the parking system.

“For a visit to the emergency ward, you have to wait at least two hours, and then to transfer to another ward, it takes up to half a day.

“Can you imagine the cost for patients and their families at RM2 an hour? And for the B40 community, this is especially hard,” said Lee during the site visit.

He was accompanied by Jinjang PRM branch chairman Chua Yi Ken and vice-chairman Ong Seong Choon.

Lee said as a government hospital, the needs of the people should be prioritised.

Yee asked that the Selayang Hospital and Health Ministry look into the matter and consider revising the rates for the benefit of patients and visitors.