Court allows preliminary objection in Teresa Kok's suit

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court allowed a preliminary objection raised by the Federal Territories Minister, that the increment of parking charges is a policy decision of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall mayor, in a judicial review application filed by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and a consumer association.
The court also struck out the minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor as a party in the hearing of the review application, which was filed by Kok to strike out the increase in parking charges in KL. City Hall was also struck out as a party.
However, High Court judge Datin Azizah Nawawi did not allow the preliminary objection on only one ground sought by Kok, which is on the appointment of a company, Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan, to manage and collect parking fees and fixed June 13 to hear the matter.
"The court has struck out the minister because the decision was made by the mayor and not the minister," said Deputy Public Prosecutor Mazlifah Ayob, when approached by reporters.
Kok and the Selangor and Federal Territories Consumer Association president Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman had filed an application on Oct 7, 2016 naming Tengku Adnan, KL Mayor Datuk Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz and KL City Hall, claiming that the increase in parking charges was unduly high.
They sought to quash an order dated July 13, 2016 to increase parking charges at public parking places, an order to appoint Syarikat Vista Summerose Sdn Bhd to manage and collect fees and to quash an order to use parking fee machines, which charges "block" for one hour instead of one minute.