Kuala Lumpur Mayor Mhd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz today denied that the federal capital will impose congestion charges on private vehicles after the completion of MRT Line 1 in 2017, as reported.

“We can't afford to (impose the charge in 2017). (There's) only one MRT line… they (the media) picked up (on) the issue, but (there's) no concrete plan.

“It can’t come from us. It should be from the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad),” Amin told reporters after meeting 11 Kuala Lumpur MPs at the DBKL headquarters.

Amin ( photo ) clarified that City Hall does not have the power to impose such charges, adding that it is vested on Spad.

On Sept 29, theSun reported that DBKL is planning to impose road pricing or congestion charges for private vehicles two years down the road in the capital's business district.

Amin is quoted as saying this is to encourage the use of public transportation.

Pressed further, Amin concurred that a good public transport system akin to Singapore is a pre-condition to imposing congestion charges here.

“When the present (Pakatan Harapan) MPs object, it’s not the time to impose. I keep quiet and say 'no comment'," he said.

Asked whether DBKL will support the charges should Spad insist on implementing it, the mayor said: “We will support.”

Malaysiakini has contacted Spad for further comment but to no avail.

Improve public transport system

DAP rep for Cheras Tan Kok Wai, who was present in the meeting with the mayor, objected to congestion charges.

“I told him (Amin), 'you have no power, but you own Kuala Lumpur. If you are disallowing any party to impose rules and charges, nobody can charge anything'.

"I said, 'You better stop it. It is because Spad is using MRT Line 1 and LRT extension as scapegoat to impose congestion charges',” he said, adding that a single MRT line is insufficient to support the needs of Klang Valley residents.

Meanwhile, PKR Batu MP Tian Chua ( photo ) agreed that car parks should be reduced due to the scarcity of space in Kuala Lumpur.

“Personally, I agree in encouraging people to use public transport... In the long run, I can see the rationale, because car parks take up a lot of valuable space in the city.

“For me, improving the current public transport system is crucial. Spad must do it to enable people travel efficiently. Unfortunately, it is not,” he added.

Chua also suggested that City Hall establishes a transport board to oversee the policies, instead of relying on Spad.

To make the use of public transport more enticing, Deputy Federal Territories Minister Loga Bala Mohan said parking in congested zones would also be made more expensive.

"The government will also impose plans to make it difficult for private vehicles to enter the city,” Loga Bala is quoted as saying.

He added that the number of parking bays would also be reduced to discourage motorists.