Jaga kerata

Jaga is cleaning the car window

The Star Metro on 5 Feb 2009 posted an article about the return of the jaga kerata. These are the illegal car parking attendants who collect a fee from people, and in return will guard your car, and some may even 'clean' your windows. Malaysians are scared that if they don't pay these men, then their car will be damaged.

I was at Bukit Bintang on 20 Jan 2009, and spent some time watching one jaga kereta. He was "working" at a parking area of about 8 cars, though I think he may also have covered another one across the road. I watched him trying to get people to park in his area whenever there was an empty space. Then when the car parked, he would take a rag out of a plastic bag and wipe the car windows. Most drivers would hand over some money when they left their vehicle. The others paid as they were leaving, and then the jaga would help the car to back out into the road.

They are found all over KL. According to the Star, drivers are paying RM2-5 for their car to be protected. That's a pretty good income for these jaga kereta!