logo
Selangor parking plan may be delayed, privatisation agreement not final

Selangor parking plan may be delayed, privatisation agreement not final

The Star3 days ago
Selangor intelligent Parking (SIP) press conference with Datuk Ng Suee Lim. PC is to address the wrong facts associated with the parking issue. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
The Selangor Intelligent Parking (SIP) agreement is not final and its Aug 1 implementation may be delayed as state authorities are still refining details, Datuk Ng Suee Lim says.
"The four local councils (PBTs) involved in the first phase of the agreement have consented to it in principle, but that is subject to refinement of certain details, such as revenue sharing arrangement and contract duration," said Ng, who is state local government and tourism committee chairman.
"We are currently finalising all the details.
"The Selangor state executive council may request for a delay in implementation if certain parties are not agreeable to certain details," he elaborated.
Ng was speaking at a press conference to address queries and concerns on the Selangor government's move to privatise parking fee collection, enforcement and management of on-street parking under the SIP initiative.
"The tripartite agreement involves PBTs as the agency that sets policies, parking rates and parking areas, Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) Selangor subsidiary Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd as the system coordinator, and the private concession company as the operator of the on-street parking system," he explained.
"The agreement will see the streamlining and centralisation of the on-street parking system into an integrated system across all PBTs in Selangor."
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.
"The parking fee collection will be distributed between the PBT, Rantaian Mesra and the concessionaire based on an agreed financial model," said Ng.
"The PBTs will not bear any operational costs," he said.
Responding to a question that the agreement had been announced by MBSJ through a social media post, Ng said his office would investigate the matter.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Councils facing costly quick fix
Councils facing costly quick fix

The Star

time7 hours ago

  • The Star

Councils facing costly quick fix

THE decision by Selangor government to implement the Smart Intelligent Parking (SIP) system across three districts, starting from Aug 1, seems rushed. This approach, aimed at addressing the low parking fee collection issue, appears to have been poorly thought through. Selangor state executive councillor Datuk Ng Suee Lim stated that privatisation was part of the state's strategy to combat the low parking collection rate, which currently stood at only 30% across 1,000 designated parking bays. However, the pressing question remains: Why hasn't the state government tackled the underlying issues within local government authorities (PBT)? There are various avenues to explore, such as improving mobile applications, strengthening enforcement, offering staff incentives or even revising PBT regulations. Privatisation may seem like a quick fix, but it comes at a significant cost. Local PBTs are now required to share 50% of the revenue with the SIP operator, Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd. This revenue is crucial for PBTs and ultimately, the welfare of the community. Two civic groups, PJ Sejahtera and Persatuan Petaling Jaya Lestari, have raised concerns that Petaling Jaya City Council could lose up to RM10mil annually due to the SIP implementation. The state government must urgently conduct a thorough review of this situation. Any necessary changes, inclu­ding amending or even cancelling the concession, should be made to protect PBT revenues and ensure the well-being of the community. Datuk Lawrence Low MCA vice-president MCA Economic and SME Affairs committee chairman

Selangor parking system working fine, no need to fix it, says PJ MP
Selangor parking system working fine, no need to fix it, says PJ MP

The Star

timea day ago

  • The Star

Selangor parking system working fine, no need to fix it, says PJ MP

"IF THE system is not broken, why fix it?" is a Selangor MP's response to the state government's controversial decision to appoint a company as the new parking concessionaire in the state. Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung ( pic ) said the current parking collection fee system, where Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) Selangor takes a 10% administrative cut, should remain based on its effectiveness. "The current parking system has been functioning effectively with no major complaints. "If the system is not broken, why fix it?" he said in a press statement on Thursday (July 17). Lee said the proposed parking system risks compromising the financial autonomy of the four local councils, which include Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). The others are Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS). On Wednesday (July 16), state local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said the privatisation under Selangor's Intelligent Parking (SIP) initiative hinges on final consent from all involved parties, including the four local councils. Lee pointed out that revenue collected from the parking fees contributes directly to MBPJ's consolidated fund and is reinvested into essential local services such as road maintenance, public parks, and lighting, said Lee. "Why jeopardise this vital income stream?" he questioned. Lee added that local councils are best placed to determine suitable smart city and parking solutions for their communities. "Even proposals to add new parking lots now reportedly require state-level approval — an overreach that undermines local authority," he said. Lee added that in 1999, the state government awarded a similar concession, which ended in failure. He urged the Selangor government to safeguard the legal and financial independence of local councils.

Ringgit outlook steady on weaker dollar, easing rate differentials
Ringgit outlook steady on weaker dollar, easing rate differentials

New Straits Times

timea day ago

  • New Straits Times

Ringgit outlook steady on weaker dollar, easing rate differentials

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit is expected to hover between 4.20 and 4.30 against the US dollar over the next 12 months, supported by a softer greenback, according to Standard Chartered. Its head of managed investments and advisory Ng Shin Seong said the bulk of the US dollar's weakness has already been factored in, with only limited downside remaining in their 12-month outlook for the dollar-ringgit exchange rate. "Interest rate differentials between the US and Malaysia are expected to narrow over the next 12 months, following a preemptive rate cut locally and amid growing expectations of rate cuts in the US," Ng said during Standard Chartered's global market outlook conference for the second half of 2025 (2H25). In its market outlook report, Standard Chartered projected a weaker US dollar over the next six to 12 months, noting that downside risks remain and the greenback's trajectory will be a key factor influencing markets. The bank added that since April, concerns around the structural threat of "de-dollarisation" have gained traction. In the shorter term, it said elevated US dollar valuations, the likelihood of narrowing rate differentials, and uncertainty surrounding US trade policy are expected to weigh on the currency over the coming months. The report said euro and Japanese yen are likely to emerge as key beneficiaries, while the British pound is expected to remain resilient. The Swiss franc is projected to trade within a range, as its low domestic interest rates offset the impact of a weaker US dollar. "In Asia, the Singapore dollar is anticipated to ease from the upper end of its policy band," it said. Standard Chartered senior investment strategist Yap Fook Hien said that although the bank does not hold specific views on Malaysia's equity market, it remains positive on Asia ex-Japan, noting that a weaker US dollar is expected to be supportive for the region. He said the bank currently favours China and Korea due to ongoing stimulus measures and advancements in artificial intelligence. "Asean equities including Malaysia are largely made up of financial stocks, especially those from Singapore. This makes the region quite defensive. "In weaker market conditions, Asean tends to outperform, but in strong bull markets, it may lag behind. At the moment, we see catalysts in other markets like China and Korea, which we believe will outperform. "Overall, we remain positive on Asia ex-Japan, but the momentum within the region is stronger outside of Asean," he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store