MPSJ legal department director Anita Abd Jalil said the Draft Order Amendment for the Road Transport (Provision for Parking) MPSJ 2011 had been approved and would be gazetted in about two months’ time.

Once it has been gazetted, MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi said the one-hour parking rule would be implemented fully in Taipan and possibly be extended to other areas where parking is a problem.

Anita said the council would also be provided with the legal authority to fully enforce the ruling.

The MPSJ had introduced the one-hour parking limit in Taipan as a pilot project in January last year to deal with traffic congestion and double-parking motorists.

“Besides improving the parking problem in Taipan, the traders have also responded well to the ruling as it promotes better traffic flow,” said Asmawi.

Meanwhile, Asmawi announced at yesterday’s full board meeting that the MPSJ would be extending the deadline for the Flat Rate Campaign for another month till Sept 30. The campaign offers a special rate of RM10 per offence to all traffic offenders.

“The MPSJ has collected about RM866,000 up till Aug 23, which amounts to only 11% of the overall RM100mil total arrears (before discount) or 1.2 million compound notices issued,” he said.

“We are targeting to collect fines from about 60% of the summons issued by the council, and urge the public to use this opportunity to settle their outstanding traffic summonses.”

All compounds that are not paid after Oct 1 will be charged a maximum rate of RM80 and no appeals will be entertained.

KUALA LUMPUR: Security companies in the country have been reminded not to hire foreign workers as security guards at any premises.

Association of Professional Security Agencies (ASPA) president Datuk Mustapha Ali said companies still employing foreigners can be fined under the Private Agencies Act 1971.

"There is no need for foreign workers in the security industry because there are many local workers who can serve as security guards.

"Why do we still take in foreigners to take care of us and our homes? Are we confident with the training and experience they have? It is an offence to hire foreign workers as security guards," he said Thursday, when asked comment on the need to employ foreign labour to the point of incurring expenses to the Government in terms of management and costs.

Mustapha, who is also Security Services Association of Malaysia (PPKKM) deputy president, wants all quarters including residential management not to compromise or use foreigners as security guards.

"We know foreign labour is cheaper than local but we must remember that lower cost does not necessarily promise security.

"We don't know the background of foreign workers and should they be arrested by police or Immigration, their employers can be charged. If anything happens, who will take responsibility?" said Mustapha, adding this differed from the construction sector which needed more foreign workers for national development. - Bernama