Latest news with #PenangSmartParking
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MBPP must buck up, residents' association says amid new performance system
GEORGE TOWN: The Tanjung Bungah Residents' Association (TBRA) has called on the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to urgently improve its performance, citing a long list of alleged failures affecting public trust and city management. This follows a warning from Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming that local councils performing poorly under the newly-introduced "traffic light" evaluation system could face penalties, including funding cuts. TBRA chairman Zulfikar Abdul Aziz claimed the council has fallen short in several key areas and rated MBPP "four out of 10" for its effectiveness. "We are not happy with MBPP's performance. The council has failed to implement a gazetted local plan since 2008, despite detailed proposals by civil groups like Penang Forum. "This lack of direction has real consequences, like the court case loss over the Sungai Ara Sunway project where public interest was clearly not prioritised," he told the New Straits Times. TBRA is one of the most vocal residents' association in the state. Zulfikar also criticised the council for allegedly neglecting public transport infrastructure, including poor pedestrian walkways and impractical bus stop designs, which discouraged the use of buses. "There is minimal participation from ratepayers in planning. Every state constituency should have at least one townhall a year to ensure residents have a say. The council must start listening," he claimed. Zulfikar also raised concerns about how councillors were allegedly appointed, urging MBPP to introduce mock elections to improve transparency and public representation. Other ongoing issues claimed include: * poor management of food and market complexes; * the incomplete rollout of the Penang Smart Parking project, with many car parks still unequipped with the promised technology; * repeated assessment tax hikes without clear improvement in services; * weak recycling efforts in residential areas; and, * renovations of public spaces done without consulting affected neighbourhoods. "The council collects a large amount of revenue each year, but the outcomes do not match. "It is not just about spending, it is about effective spending. That starts with a competent team of councillors and a commitment to engage the public regularly," Zulfikar claimed. He warned the city council to buck up, or risk serious consequences. Under the traffic light evaluation system, any local authority rated "red light" would have their allocation withdrawn; for "yellow", the allocation would be reduced; but if rated "green", the allocation would be increased. For local authorities who received a red light, the president and secretary would be called in for counselling and required to attend a performance enhancement course. The NST has reached out to MBPP Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran on how it intends to achieve the desired results under the newly introduced traffic light evaluation system and still awaiting response.
The Star
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Cameras curb parking fee evasion in Penang
YOU pop into a shop for a quick errand, skipping the parking payment, thinking you will not be long. In the meantime, you keep an eye on your vehicle, ready to rush out upon seeing a local council enforcement officer. However, with the introduction of the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, the days of spotting enforcement officers issuing summonses are now a thing of the past. Instead, enforcement now happens discreetly, through high-tech cameras mounted on enforcement vehicles that scan and capture number plates in real time. Before the ANPR came into force, MBPP enforcement officers could be seen issuing summonses for illegal parking. — Filepic Violations are detected instantly, and parking summonses are issued automatically to your Penang Smart Parking app. In short, there is minimal warning and even less opportunity to evade penalties. Just two weeks after its rollout, the system has sparked mixed reactions from drivers and consumer groups. While some praise its efficiency and potential to improve traffic conditions, others express frustration over its uncompromising accuracy. Mohideen: The ANPR system can streamline enforcement, minimise human error and enhance overall efficiency. Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kader, in welcoming the move, called it a significant step forward in urban management. He said illegal and haphazard parking had been a persistent issue in Penang for decades, and the new system could finally bring much-needed discipline to the roads. 'The ANPR system can streamline enforcement, minimise human error and enhance overall efficiency,' he said. 'It certainly encourages better parking habits now that motorists are aware their actions are being automatically monitored.' He said the rollout of the ANPR system was a long-overdue response to an issue that had been neglected for too long. 'If enforcement had been more consistent, manual or otherwise, we might not have reached this point. 'With ANPR, we finally have a chance at fairer and more consistent enforcement, assuming the technology is accurate and implemented correctly,' he said. Business owner A. Mariappan, 56, said the move would undoubtedly boost the city councils' coffers, adding that the funds could benefit the public. 'I don't mind the ANPR system, but if you're going to collect all this money from the public, then ensure it is put to good use. 'Reinvest in community infrastructure like beautifying the streets, maintaining pedestrian walkways, or installing better lighting in commercial areas. 'That way, people will feel the system is working for them, not against them,' he pointed out. Tech-driven enforcement The ANPR system was proposed and developed by Heitech Padu (HTP) as part of its contract to manage the city's smart parking system. H'ng: Penang Island council and Seberang Perai council will each deploy five dedicated ANPR patrol teams to monitor their respective areas daily. Incorporating components sourced from several countries, it was fully customised and developed by HTP to suit local requirements. Penang local government, town and country planning committee chairman Jason H'ng Mooi Lye said both Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) were committed to streamlining enforcement operations under the new system. 'Each city council will deploy five dedicated ANPR patrol teams to monitor their respective areas daily. 'The ANPR initiative will reduce the need for human enforcement by at least 60%. 'This means both councils can redeploy their existing parking enforcement personnel to other departments where manpower is urgently needed. 'It is also a cost-saving measure, as it reduces the need to hire additional staff in the future,' he said when contacted by StarMetro. Revising parking system MBPP enforcement director Noorazrein Noorazlan Ong said the system was aimed at ensuring motorists complied with parking regulations without heavy reliance on manual patrols by enforcement officers. Noorazrein: The ANPR system aims to ensure motorists comply with parking regulations. 'It will also ease congestion, encourage turnover of parking spaces and reduce disputes over parking fines,' he said in an interview with StarMetro. He said vehicles parked illegally or without valid payment would now be automatically flagged and issued fines. 'The system checks for both offences during scanning. 'Otherwise, people might park outside the bays instead of within them. 'We advise the public not to park indiscriminately. 'If you park outside the designated areas, your car may be clamped or issued a summons carrying a higher fine by the traffic warden,' he said. Noorazrein said the ANPR system was not intended to burden the public but meant to improve the efficiency, transparency and integrity of parking enforcement. 'The system uses special cameras mounted inside enforcement vehicles to scan and capture vehicle number plates in real time. 'As the patrol vehicles move along the roads, the system automatically checks whether payments have been made and the data is instantly transmitted to the enforcement officers' laptops in the vehicles. A sign at Lorong Belakang Lebuh Pitt informing motorists to use the Penang Smart Parking (PSP) to pay their parking fees. 'If a vehicle is found without valid parking payment, the information is uploaded to the cloud, and the vehicle owner receives an immediate notification through the PSP app,' he said. Noorazrein said only two officers were needed in each enforcement vehicle to monitor hundreds of parking bays. 'In the past, one officer was assigned to patrol between 300 to 400 parking lots, manually checking and recording parking violations. 'It was a task that could take one to two minutes per vehicle. 'With the ANPR, 30 to 40 vehicles can be scanned within a few minutes, making enforcement much faster and more efficient. 'Once scans are complete, officers cross-verify the licence plate images with the collected data to ensure accuracy before uploading any fines to the system. 'Vehicle owners then receive a real-time notification of any compounds issued, through their PSP app,' he said. Cars parked illegally in George Town, Penang, risk being fined by enforcement officers using the ANPR. — Filepic Noorazrein advised PSP users to enable the app's notification settings to avoid missing an alert. Addressing concerns that the system was a 'money-grabbing' tool, as voiced by some motorists interviewed, Noorazrein assured the public that the system was aimed at streamlining operations and reducing dependency on human patrols. 'The system also minimises risks to enforcement officers, such as traffic accidents or altercations during manual checks. 'Users who pay for their parking as required will not be affected by the ANPR. 'The usage brings Penang in line with international standards, where similar technologies have long been used in shopping malls and private carparks for automatic entry and payment systems,' he added. Noorazrein said that before the launch of the ANPR system, a one-year trial period was carried out to ensure stability and efficiency in real-world conditions. 'During the trial phase, over 2,000 compounds were issued using manual printing after vehicles were scanned,' he said. 'With the full launch, the latest version of ANPR now allows for compounds to be sent directly to users' app. 'As Penang moves toward becoming a smarter city, motorists have to adapt quickly either by diligently paying for parking or risk an automated fine.' Modern fix, poor timing While the authorities are hailing the initiative as a step toward modernising urban management, not everyone shares the same optimism. Some view it as an added financial burden, while others argue that the focus should be on increasing the number of available parking bays. Ronan says he has to make a conscious effort to remember to pay for parking to avoid getting fined. Data entry analyst Ronan Ooi, 28, who frequently drives into the city, said the new system would leave him with no choice but to be more vigilant about paying for parking – especially after a 50% fee hike implemented in March on Penang island. 'First, the parking fees went up, and now this. 'Sometimes I forget to pay because I am just popping in and out of a shop but now, I will have to make a conscious effort to remember.' Ronan said while he had considered switching to public transport, the services now were not convenient for his needs. 'It is not that I don't want to take the bus into the city, but they just aren't as frequent as I'd like,' he explained. Housewife Pauline Ooi, 60, echoed similar frustrations, citing both the difficulty in finding parking and inconvenience of digital payment methods. 'Finding a parking spot in town is a nightmare because of how limited the bays are. 'On top of that, I am not very tech-savvy. Still, I have no choice but to start using the app.' Hanees says he may lose customers who fear being caught by the ANPR when stopping for a short while to pack food. Hanees Gani, 42, who sells mee goreng at the Pulau Tikus Food Market in Bangkok Lane, felt it was not the right time for the implementation of the ANPR system. 'The economy is already tight for small traders like us, and this will add to our burden,' he said, adding that he might lose customers if they were not able to stop for a while to pack their food. Hanees suggested that MBPP delay the full roll-out of the system until the economic situation improved. 'At least give us time to adjust, or wait until people are in a better financial position,' he said. Revised parking fees Effective March 1, MBPP increased the parking rates by 50%, from 40sen to 60sen for 30mins, 80sen to RM1.20 for an hour, and RM6 to RM9 for a day. The monthly pass remains at RM150. On the mainland, MBSP's parking fees went up 100% from Jan 1. Under the revised rates, MBSP hourly parking is 80sen, up from 40sen, while the daily rate went up from RM3 to RM6. Monthly parking passes rose from RM75 to RM150. A new short-term option of 40sen for 30 minutes was introduced.
Malay Mail
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Penang launches automated parking fine system with real-time plate scanning
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 — Penang has officially rolled out an automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system to issue parking fines, in a move aimed at improving efficiency and reducing reliance on manual enforcement. According to Free Malaysia Today, the system, which is effective today, scans vehicle number plates in real time to detect unpaid parking fees and automatically issues compounds — all without the need for on-site officers. The report added that notifications of fines are sent directly to motorists through the Penang Smart Parking app, which remains the only platform for parking payments at council-managed lots. 'This isn't just a tech upgrade. It is (a shift in) how we manage urban parking with smart enforcement, full digitalisation, and a commitment to the environment with fewer paper compounds,' said state Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye at a press conference held at the Seberang Perai City Council today. Both the Penang Island City Council and the Seberang Perai City Council will each operate five ANPR units. The system, equipped with optical character recognition, cross-checks scanned number plates against the Road Transport Department (JPJ) database. If a vehicle is found parked illegally or without payment, a fine would be instantly issued, with the owner's details pulled directly from JPJ records, he added. H'ng also said that the automated system is expected to lower operating costs and potentially reduce manpower needs per patrol unit by 60 per cent.
Daily Express
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Express
Penang rolls out automated parking fines
Published on: Thursday, April 24, 2025 Published on: Thu, Apr 24, 2025 By: Predeep Nambiar, FMT Text Size: Automated parking enforcement is projected to reduce operating costs and patrol unit manpower needs by 60%. GEORGE TOWN: Penang has begun using an automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system to issue parking fines, effective today. The system scans number plates to detect unpaid parking fees in real-time and issues compounds without requiring officers to be physically present. Notifications are sent directly to motorists via the Penang Smart Parking app, the sole platform for parking payments at council lots. State local government, town and country planning committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said the upgrade meant faster, smarter enforcement with fewer errors. 'This isn't just a tech upgrade. It is (a shift in) how we manage urban parking with smart enforcement, full digitalisation, and a commitment to the environment with fewer paper compounds,' he told reporters at the Seberang Perai City Council. Penang's local councils – the Penang Island City Council and the Seberang Perai City Council – will operate five ANPR units each. Using optical character recognition, the ANPR system cross-checks number plates with the road transport department (JPJ) database. If a vehicle is found to be parked illegally or without payment, H'ng said a fine would be instantly issued, with the owner's details pulled directly from JPJ records. He said the move would lower operating costs and potentially reduce manpower needs per patrol unit by 60%. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Penang rolls out automated parking fines
Automated parking enforcement is projected to reduce operating costs and patrol unit manpower needs by 60%. GEORGE TOWN : Penang has begun using an automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system to issue parking fines, effective today. The system scans number plates to detect unpaid parking fees in real-time and issues compounds without requiring officers to be physically present. Notifications are sent directly to motorists via the Penang Smart Parking app, the sole platform for parking payments at council lots. State local government, town and country planning committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said the upgrade meant faster, smarter enforcement with fewer errors. 'This isn't just a tech upgrade. It is (a shift in) how we manage urban parking with smart enforcement, full digitalisation, and a commitment to the environment with fewer paper compounds,' he told reporters at the Seberang Perai City Council. Penang's local councils – the Penang Island City Council and the Seberang Perai City Council – will operate five ANPR units each. Using optical character recognition, the ANPR system cross-checks number plates with the road transport department (JPJ) database. If a vehicle is found to be parked illegally or without payment, H'ng said a fine would be instantly issued, with the owner's details pulled directly from JPJ records. He said the move would lower operating costs and potentially reduce manpower needs per patrol unit by 60%.
