Johor Bahru eateries say they’re losing customers as Singapore-bound workers fill the limited parking from 5am to 8pm

JOHOR BAHRU: Eateries in Johor Bahru (JB) are reportedly losing customers because Singapore-bound workers are taking up limited parking spaces for more than 12 hours.

During a recent trip to JB, Iman Sofia from Sethlui.com said she had to drop plans to visit eateries in JB after failing to find a single available parking spot. This issue turned out to be something many food vendors have been facing for a while.

Citing the New Straits Times, Ms Iman said that JB traders, especially food hawkers, have already raised the matter with local authorities, noting that Johor residents commuting to work in Singapore often leave their cars near the CIQ complex and parts of JB city centre from as early as 5 a.m. until 8 p.m. Public parking spots in Medan Nusa Perintis 2, Gelang Patah, and Perling have been especially affected.

Traders added that working commuters have also occupied parking spots officially designated for businesses, with some even removing cones and ignoring reserved signs.

A food vendor operating in Perling, at a location designated by the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP), said she arrived one morning to find her allocated lot already taken. She added that some people even questioned if she had the right to park there.

Meanwhile, at the Iskandar Malaysia Food Court in Gelang Patah, a stall owner said nearly 20 vendors there have seen their profits fall over the past two years due to the same parking concern. Shop owners along Jalan Lumba Kuda also experienced the same issue due to the limited parking in the area, which is close to Singapore.

Even after several complaints were made to MBIP, the issue remains unresolved. Some business owners, out of desperation, have ended up calling tow trucks to get their own parking spaces back. /TISG

Read also: JB residents complain that crowds flocking to “Johor’s Koh Samui” lookalike beach are “becoming a nuisance” due to poor parking

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)