
Selangor's parking deal stinks to high heaven
The most important was that the exercise has been deemed illegal by legal experts as it infringes upon the statutory rights of local councils to manage parking under the Road Transport Act (RTA) 1987.
The Local Government Act (LGA) 1976 governs, among others, the administration and management of local authorities, including the provision and regulation of parking facilities.
While the LGA does not specifically detail car park operations, it empowers local authorities to enact bylaws for managing public spaces, including parking areas.
Additionally, the RTA provides for the regulation of traffic, including parking, and grants the local authority the power to designate car parks and enforce parking regulations.
Accordingly, the Road Transport (Provision of Parking Spaces) (Petaling Jaya City Council) Order was enacted and gazetted, giving such powers to the local authority.
But on Wednesday...
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The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
Traffic enforcement blitz in Ampang Jaya
AMPANG Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) issued nearly 4,000 parking-related compounds to errant motorists during a large-scale enforcement operation that took place in several commercial areas. The three-day operation, dubbed 'Ops Terjah Parking', was carried out from July 15 to 17 in Taman Muda, Taman Perindustrian Pandan Indah and Pandan Jaya. In addition to 3,930 compounds, five notices were issued and two vehicles were seized. 'The main offences identified during the operation included failure to pay parking fees and placing vehicles outside designated parking bays. 'Enforcement was carried out under the Road Transport Order (Provision of Parking Spaces) (MPAJ) 2007,' the municipal council said in a statement. The operation involved issuing compounds to vehicle owners who failed to pay parking fees and offering on-site compound payment services. The stronger enforcement drew support from some who said similar operations should be carried out more often in other busy commercial areas. A frequent visitor to Bandar Baru Ampang, Jenny Selvam said the double-parking situation had gotten out of control. 'There are usually parking bays available but some people choose to double park for convenience. This creates unnecessary congestion for others. 'I hope MPAJ will step up enforcement and carry out regular checks,' she said. A check by StarMetro at the Pandan Perdana, Pandan Indah and Ampang Point commercial areas showed a similar need for enforcement. Motorists double-parked or parked along main roads that are not designated for parking. In Pandan Indah, double-parked vehicles interrupted traffic flow, causing congestion. MPAJ, in the same media statement, said the operation would be continued in all gazetted parking areas under its jurisdiction. 'The public is advised to pay parking fees and park within designated bays to avoid obstructing traffic.' Compounds issued must be settled to avoid further action, the local council added. In May, MPAJ towed 29 vehicles during another operation in the Ampang Point area. It also issued 41 compounds to vehicle owners who had parked in back lanes or blocked key access points.


New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Miros: 12 motorcyclists die on roads daily
KUALA LUMPUR: A motorcyclist dies every two hours in Malaysia, a rate that road safety experts say should no longer be treated as normal. Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) Human Factors and Road User Behavioural Centre director Ir Ts Azhar Hamzah said motorcyclists continue to dominate road fatality statistics, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of all deaths. "Just imagine 12 people die every day. Every two hours, one person dies riding a motorcycle," said Azhar during the Allianz Malaysia Media Forum held at Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral on Tuesday. He said many of these deaths were preventable if the country took proactive steps in education, training and behaviour change. "The best safety for motorcyclists is prevention. You cannot rely only on post-incident measures. The best is prevention," he said. Azhar said motorcycles were originally intended for short-distance travel but have evolved into a primary means of transport across long distances in Malaysia, despite their limitations. "A motorcycle is unstable. It only becomes stable if it's moving at least 8km per hour. The engine and wheels help balance the forces to keep it upright. The faster it moves, the more stable it becomes, but that doesn't mean it should be ridden fast," he said. He described the physical vulnerability of riders as a major concern. "Other than the handlebars, it's just your body. When you ride, your legs are the most exposed. Your head is the highest point. That's why it needs protection," he said. Azhar said Malaysia's road culture has normalised risky behaviours such as weaving through traffic and speeding, adding that such actions remain a legal grey area under current road regulations. "In Malaysia, this has become the culture. Riders move through gaps in roads to maintain stability. Whether it's right or wrong is unclear, as even the Road Transport Act is a bit vague," he said. He said changing rider behaviour and enforcing the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) were urgent priorities. "If we can't eliminate motorcycles, then we must control them through better roads, more stable motorcycle designs, and stronger rules," he said. He warned that injury ratios in Malaysia were far higher than in developed countries, where the ratio might be one death to 30 serious injuries. "In our country, that number could be one to 50. From that 50, many suffer permanent disabilities and require lifelong assistance. Not just them, but their families too," he said. Azhar also singled out gig economy riders as being particularly vulnerable. "P-hailing riders spend five times longer on the road compared with regular motorcycle users. So, the risk is higher," he said. He added that slowing down was one of the fastest ways to reduce motorcycle fatalities. "If we reduce speed, we get an immediate reward. If you ride slower, you lower your risk right away," he said. Azhar urged government agencies, private companies and the public to act without delay. "If you ride a motorcycle, act now. Don't wait," he said.


The Star
13-07-2025
- The Star
Come clean over parking deal, S'gor govt told
PETALING JAYA: The Selangor government has been told to come clean over its controversial parking deal and furnish proof of how it will benefit the rakyat. Taman Medan assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin is among those calling for transparency over the deal, which would see a private company take over on-street parking fee collection from four local councils starting Aug 1. 'Show us the numbers. Show us how this benefits the people and the state. I have no idea what the arrangement is. 'But come clean and explain the formula of 50%, 40%, 10% and how it benefits the public,' he said. Under the deal, 50% of parking fees will go to the company, 40% to the councils, and 10% to Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI). Some enforcement staff will be absorbed and retrained by the company. Selangor local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim had announced the concession deal during the Selangor state assembly sitting last week. He said the state was implementing the Selangor Intelligent Parking (SIP) system to modernise on-street parking using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, allowing local councils to focus on other duties. Ng also said the selection of the company was above board, and not made via direct tender. The agreement, signed in March, involves four local councils, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) and Shah Alam City Council (MBSA). Dr Afif questioned whether the appointment process was lawful and an improvement over previous arrangements. 'Was it done legally? Is this better than the previous concession? These are the questions the public is asking, and they have a right to know,' he said to StarMetro. Meanwhile, civil groups PJ Sejahtera and Persatuan Petaling Jaya Lestari have called for an immediate halt to the 10-year concession awarded to the company. They claim the deal lacks transparency, could divert up to RM10mil a year from local services in Petaling Jaya, and undermines council authority under the Road Transport Act 1987. The groups are demanding that the state government cancel the deal, release all procurement documents, reaffirm local council control, and hold a public inquiry. 'This isn't just about parking, it's about public accountability, local governance, and safeguarding resources meant for the people of Selanggor,' they said in a statement.