Kota Kinabalu, Wednesday, 9 April 2025:
The people of Luyang are calling upon the relevant authorities to urgently review the status of the Foh Sang Multi‑Storey Parking Building in Luyang and to take immediate steps to designate it as a free facility for public use.
Public infrastructure designed to alleviate urban challenges like traffic congestion should prioritise the needs and welfare of the people, not serve primarily as a source of revenue.
The original and noble idea for this facility, envisioned in 1997 by social activist, SAPP member, and reputable engineer, the late Datuk Terence Chong Nyim Fatt, was fundamentally much better then what has been done now.
The Original Vision
Following thorough discussions with local residents and businesses, Datuk Terence Chong’s proposal championed a free facility for the people of Luyang intended to serve the community, support local commerce, improve accessibility, reduce parking stress, and offer ground-floor local authority services.
These planned services included DBKK counters for city hall fee collections, various licence renewals including dog licences requested by residents, and even a Pondok Polis (Police Beat Base).
Profit Over Service Now
Regrettably, the current reality stands in stark contrast to that people-centric intention. Since March 2025, the imposition of parking fees on a 24/7 basis within the facility, covering hourly, overnight, and monthly rates, has created an unnecessary financial burden for the public.
Furthermore, the fee charging structure suffers from a lack of transparency, particularly concerning overnight parking rules and monthly pass coverage, making motorists reluctant to use the facility.
This misplaced focus extends beyond parking, as fees are now even being collected for toilet usage within the building.
Negative Impacts and Deterrents
The approximately 50 parking spaces previously available on the ground floor of the building site itself have been removed. In a baffling move that exacerbates the problem, some existing on-street parking spaces have even been replaced by flower beds, further diminishing availability.
Furthermore, residents have lost the long-standing benefit of free parking previously available in the area during off office hours such as evening, Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and public holidays.
All these irrational actions have worsened the car parking problem in Foh Sang and Bronion Centre.
This situation actively drives people away from the Foh Sang / Bornion area.
Ignoring Local Empowerment and Economy
Adding insult to injury, the payment system contract for the parking building has been awarded to a non-Sabahan entity based in Kuala Lumpur, diverting economic benefits away from the local community and contradicting the spirit of local empowerment and economic autonomy for Sabah.
Restoring the Vision
Abolishing the parking charges would restore the original, beneficial spirit of the project as envisioned by the late Datuk Terence Chong.
The people of Luyang deserved accessible, free public off-street parking as originally intended.
We therefore strongly urge the authorities to immediately abolish all parking fees at the Foh Sang Multi‑Storey Parking Building.
We also call for its management to be transferred to a Sabah-based entity focused on public service rather than profit, and demand the restoration of sensible parking management, including addressing the loss of ground-level and on-street parking spaces.
Gee Tian Siong
Vice President, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP)