Incensed by KL Mayor Mhd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz's claim that members of the public in Bangsar and Taman Tun Dr Ismail supported the hike in parking fees, DAP representatives have thrown down the gauntlet to the city official to a public opinion duel over the matter.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok found it hard to believe when the mayor said that his remarks were based on feedback obtained from residents in the two areas, for the feedback she received from her constituents were in the negative.

More so she sniped that the mayor's claim was not empirical which may only be as good as hearsay at coffee shops.

"I nevertheless find it strange and unacceptable that he has made the claim without providing any concrete evidence and details.

"As a mayor, he should know that this is an issue where he cannot expect to merely justify with general remarks.

"The mayor should have provided details like how many residents he talked to and how many among them expressed their support for the parking fee hike," Kok (photo) said, challenging the mayor to commission an independent and professional survey to ascertain the public reaction towards the matter.

In the same vein, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng asked how many of the persons that the KL mayor talked to does not have the title of 'Datuk' in front of their names, and if the conversation was over a meal in a five-star restaurant, or by the side of a parking meter at a city parking lot.

He said it is weird that the mayor found people to be in favour of the parking fee hike when his own foray into Bangsar and TTDI revealed only complaints from city dwellers, not to mention insults hurled at City Hall.

Like Kok, Lim also challenged the mayor over the matter, saying that if he is so confident of good reception by the public over the parking fee hike, he would be ready and willing to hold a town hall meeting with city dwellers over the matter.

In July, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had announced a hike in parking fees, supposedly to address traffic congestion and encourage people to use public transportation.

This was met with opposition from city dwellers and the opposition, though yesterday Mhd Amin said that the move was accepted by the people once DBKL explained everything to them, citing unnamed persons from Bangsar and TTDI that he said he talked to.