PJ groups against Selangor parking privatisation plan
PETALING JAYA : Two groups here have called for the Selangor government to cancel a concession to a company granting it the right to take over parking fee collection and enforcement in Petaling Jaya and three other Selangor local councils from Aug 1.
PJ Sejahtera and Persatuan Petaling Jaya Lestari said parking is a local council resource, and revenue derived from it must be channelled directly to the respective local councils who manage them for the benefit of their residents.
The groups want the state government to provide detailed information on the vendor selection process and associated procurement documentation, including the final contract.
They also called for the state government to reaffirm the local councils' rights to fully manage parking in their jurisdictions.
In a statement today, the groups said Petaling Jaya may stand to lose RM10 million annually from the move, and that the councils' powers to collect parking fees under the Road Transport Act 1987 were being undermined.
They called for a public enquiry to be convened over how the decision to privatise parking at the four local councils was reached.
They said the lack of transparency was concerning as there were no public consultations held before the decision to appoint the company.
'This issue is not just about parking but also about public accountability, respect for local government autonomy, as well as responsible and transparent resource management and finance,' they said.
PJ Sejahtera is part of a coalition of residents' associations, civil society organisations and other stakeholders which work to ensure sustainable, equitable, and participatory development.
Persatuan Petaling Jaya Lestari is an NGO which advocates sustainable development, eco sustainability, and transparent governance.
On Wednesday, local government and tourism committee chairman Ng Suee Lim announced that Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd will assume responsibility for parking fee collection and enforcement across four local councils in Selangor beginning Aug 1 under the Smart Intelligent Parking (SIP) system.
The revenue generated will be distributed evenly, with 50% allocated to the concessionaire and the remaining 50% retained by the state.
Of the state's share, 40% will be directed to the local councils, while the remaining 10% will go to Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated.
Ng said the company was selected through an open tender process via a request for proposal which initially attracted interest from 26 companies, after which three were shortlisted.
Rantaian Mesra was awarded the contract for the initial phase of the SIP system, which encompasses the Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, and Selayang local councils.
Ng said the initiative forms part of the state government's broader strategy to enhance parking revenue, which currently reflects a collection rate of only about 30% from the 1,000 designated parking bays.
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