GEORGE TOWN: In just three days, 21 summonses were issued, 72 vehicles clamped and five towed away – and traffic on the island is moving smoothly, even with the school holiday influx.
A decision to declare five main streets in George Town as no-waiting zones from June 1 is reaping results, said Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement director Noorazrein Noorazlan Ong.“Our enforcement has helped prevent unnecessary obstructions that could worsen congestion.“Traffic flow has improved at key locations, allowing both locals and visitors to move around smoothly even during the school holidays,” he said.
The highest number of summonses, he added, were issued along Jalan Macalister with 12 summonses, 29 vehicles clamped and three others towed, followed closely by Jalan Burma where two summonses were issued and 25 vehicles clamped.
“These areas are among the busiest stretches in the city, often experiencing congestion due to indiscriminate parking and stopping at yellow lines,” he noted.
The streets with the no-waiting zones are part of Jalan Jelutong, Jalan Burma, Jalan Macalister, Pengkalan Weld and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. No-stopping signs have been installed and double yellow lines in the affected stretches on these roads.
Noorazrein said there is high commercial activity in these areas such as eateries, convenience stores and other retail outlets.
“Many drivers have developed a ‘just for a while’ mindset of stopping briefly to grab food or make quick purchases, assuming traffic can still pass through.
“This behaviour creates unnecessary obstructions and poses safety risks. What may have been acceptable in the past no longer applies today, especially with the current volume of traffic and urban density,” he added.
With the new enforcement, he said Jalan Macalister, Jalan Burma and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling are now experiencing smoother movement.
“The presence of our enforcement officers and consistent action, including clamping and summonses, have served as strong deterrents,” he said.
Many road users are now cautious about where they stop or park, which has helped reduce unnecessary obstructions.
“While we acknowledge that traffic issues may still arise during peak hours or festive periods, the situation has improved,” he said. Noorazrein said MBPP would continue to monitor key areas closely and adjust their deployment times and strategies to ensure that the momentum of improvement is sustained.
“The public has offered feedback and called for more frequent and time-specific enforcement. This shows that the community is not only aware, but supportive of our efforts,” he added.
