KUALA LUMPUR: Delay the privatisation of public car parking lots in Selangor and form an independent committee to review the proposal, urge four Pakatan Harapan lawmakers.
The four MPs also urged the Selangor state government to publicly disclose the terms and conditions of the Selangor Intelligent Parking (SIP) scheme and its commercial terms.
The four are Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, Selayang MP William Leong, Shah Alam MP Azli Yusof and Subang MP Wong Chen – whose constituencies were affected by the new parking scheme.
“The proposed SIP privatisation scheme raises legal, commercial and operational concerns.
“Overall, from the disclosed but limited information of the scheme, we are concerned that the scheme appears to be in favour of private interests over the rights and benefits of our local authorities (PBT) and constituents,” says Lee, who spoke on behalf of the MPs at a press conference on Tuesday (July 22).
He urged the state government to confirm whether ministerial approval was received for the scheme to be introduced, since the public parking lots fall under the jurisdiction of the Transport Ministry.
Lee also claimed that the scheme sidelined input and decision-making from the PBTs.
“Under the current scheme, a private company stands to collect 50% of the revenue, Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) only 10%, while the PBTs, who remain legally responsible for parking operations, would only receive 40% of all revenue.
“On the surface, this revenue sharing scheme seems lopsided and needs further detailed disclosures,” he said.
He added that the privatisation would risk maximising revenue collection and make profits, when the public parking lots are public service.
“We call for a revision of the entire scheme and urge the state government and PBTs to prioritise the Klang Valley’s broader mobility needs, such as the strategic allocation of parking bays, integration with public transport, and city walkability,” Lee added.
On July 15, state local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim The said that the SIP agreement is not final and its Aug 1 implementation may be delayed as state authorities are still refining details.
The four PBTs involved in the first phase are Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS).
Under the concession agreement, enforcement measures such as issuing compounds will come under the PBTs' purview, while the enforcement officers' salaries and emoluments will be handled by the concessionaire.
