Beyond Parking Woes

Beyond Parking Woes

By Datuk Huan Cheng Guan

In an attempt to do away with parking attendants and parking meters, MPPP implemented the parking coupon system on January 1, 2014 to be followed by the Smart Parking Gadget System will also be introduced from the middle of 2014. As a concerned Penangite, I question the implementation and logistics behind the coupon system due to a few pertinent considerations.

Firstly, why is there a gap between the implementation of both systems? If MPPP had deferred the coupon system to implement it concurrently with the Smart Parking Gadget (SPG) system. parking attendants could still be gainfully employed for at least six months. The income earned would have helped them to cope with the rising costs of living. In addition, Penangites would have had more time to adapt to the new system and to purchase either the coupons or SPG. As it stands, Penangites have had to suffer all kinds of inconveniences.

Secondly, many motorists are now in a flux because of the poor quality of the new parking coupons some of which have no book numbers on the front cover of the coupon booklet. Apart from that, coupon booklets purchased differ in size, colour as those purchased from MPPP have stronger orange and green tones, and longer in size compared to those purchased elsewhere.

Despite reassurances from MPPP Councillor Lim Boon Beng that Alam Indah Facility Management Sdn Bhd (which manages the coupon system in Penang Island) had confirmed all the parking coupons could be used, this situation raises eyebrows because of certain implications:

1. With no numbers on the booklet, how can one keep tab of the number of booklets printed, sold, and circulated to agents who sell these booklets?

2. How can authorities concerned handle thefts of genuine coupons or circulation of fake coupons if there is no tagging system of some sort on the booklet? In the event of a theft, MPPP can state booklets from serial numbers XXXXXX to YYYYYY are declared invalid. Without a proper system, it is a field day for dishonest people.

3. If it is the same company producing all the booklets, shouldn’t MPPP have confirmed the standard requirements for all booklets regardless of whether they were produced in 2013 or 2014?

4. The explanation that 300 coupons were produced in November is quite strange because one would realize that the coupons will be in great demand before January 2014 and that production of such a limited stock is certainly not cost-effective or sensible.

5. Mr. Lim recently stated in The Star that “the new parking coupons would contain more security features compared to the old ones.” Does it mean that security features for the old ones were not foolproof hence the production of coupons that have a stronger colour tone and length?

6. So far, there are only two types of coupons i.e. for thirty minutes and one hour. There have been numerous complaints of the inconvenience caused because consumers have to spend time scrapping the coupons. Why didn’t MPPP consider having coupons for longer time slots to circumvent such problems?

Another point of consideration is the loss of livelihood of about 300 parking operators and attendants. In early December, FMT reported that State executive councillor in charge of local government; traffic management and flood mitigation Chow Kon Yeow had called on the parking concessionaire to absorb the parking attendants into its operating system. Then, he said the company should engage the attendants to sell the coupons and monthly passes.

In October 2013, when a group of parking attendants protested the parking coupon system in front of MPPP, Hassan Abd Majid, 54, a parking attendant for 35 claimed there were irregularities in the new parking system contractor with no open competitive tender, describing it as a Ali Baba company. Then, he questioned why there is no company registration number in the paper work. MPPP owes it to Penangites to explain how Alam Indah Facility Management won the contract for the coupon and what the expertise that this company possesses in this field.

That company’s website is skeletal in structure and gives minimal information with no statement of its past record of services. The company’s head office is in Lorong Seratus Tahun with a branch in Menara BHL (no telephone number given) and in Jelapang (no telephone number given). MPPP owe it to Penangites to explain:

1. How the tender was given to Alam Indah Facility Management

2. Whether clear and specific instructions for colour, paper quality and size were given to the company and if these were adhered to

3. Security features and how people can detect genuine from fake coupons

MPPP must also explain how they got rid of old parking meters. If sold to scrap metal merchants, they should get a tidy sum. Hence, any revenue obtained must be declared to Penangites.

MPPP should come clean to make clear statements clarifying issues raised here and ensure Penangites have ample supply of legitimate parking coupons. I sincerely hope that the implementation of the SPG will be executed more efficiently and effectively lest they get more brickbats from consumers.