KUCHING: The main junction near Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (Swinburne Sarawak) has recently been flagged for chronic illegal parking.
Vehicles are reportedly lining both sides of the road-even on stretches marked with yellow lines – causing the road to narrow and obstructing motorists’ views, posing a serious safety threat to all road users.
Residents said the situation is particularly dire during peak hours with many drivers disregarding traffic regulations by parking in prohibited zones, which not only leads to heavy congestion but also heightens the risk of traffic accidents.
They added that when turning or entering the junction, their line of sight is often blocked by illegally parked cars.
This forces them to “creep out” into oncoming traffic, creating many “near-miss” situations.
Kapitan Datuk Lau Sie Lok, who is also the chairman of the Batu Lintang, Rock Road and Ong Tiang Swee Road Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), said that authorities have taken note of the issue following multiple complaints from the public.
However, he added that the specific measures to be taken to improve the area’s traffic conditions are still under observation.
Lau emphasised that illegal parking does more than just disrupt traffic flow; it compromises public safety.
He urged the public to strictly adhere to traffic rules to ensure a safer environment for everyone.
To tackle the problem, Lau proposed several measures, including installing physical barriers such as guardrails or bollards along affected stretches to prevent vehicles from stopping.
He also called for stricter enforcement through more frequent patrols and issuance of summonses, particularly during peak hours.
In addition, Lau suggested that the university consider adjusting academic schedules or introducing staggered class hours, as residents observed that traffic congestion peaks during school periods.
The proposed measures aim to ease traffic flow and improve safety for all road users at the busy junction.
