JULY 13 — The appointment of concession company Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd to take over parking fee collection and enforcement in four Selangor local councils from August 1, 2025 raises several issues of concern.
Legality: The first concern is the legality of the scheme for a private company to manage and enforce the collection of parking fees. It raises the question whether the local council has the legal power to give away 50 per cent of the revenue to Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd and 10 per cent to Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI) leaving the local council with 40 per cent. It also raises the question whether this privatisation scheme was done with the agreement of the Minister of Transport and whether such privatisation of public car parks is allowed under the Road Transport Act 1987.
The public car park lots are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport and the local councils are delegated the functions to manage and collect the parking fees by agreement with the Minister under section 72 of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Section 72(1) states that any appropriate authority or public body may, by order publish in the Gazette, provide suitable parking places for vehicles or stands for public service vehicles or goods vehicles in accordance with the Act.
The relevant principal Gazette Orders for car parks in respect of the four local councils expressly states that the Orders were made pursuant to the powers conferred under Section 72 of the Road Transport Act 1987 and the relevant local council with the concurrence of the Minister of Transport makes the order for the collection and enforcement of public car parking lots in the specified areas within the local council. There is no provision in the Gazette Orders to allow the local council to privatise the car parking management and collection of parking fees.
A general view of Petaling Jaya Town seen from PJX HM Shah Tower September 18, 2024. The appointment of concession company Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd to take over parking fee collection and enforcement in four Selangor local councils from August 1, 2025 raises several issues of concern. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin
The relevant principal Gazette Orders:
1) Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) Petaling Jaya City Council Order 2007 and subsequent amendments;
2) Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) Selayang Order 2007;
3) Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) Subang Order 2007;
4) Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) Shah Alam Order 2007;
Competency and Accountability: The second concern is the principle of competency and accountability. The reason given for the privatisation is the poor collection of 30 per cent and lax enforcement resulting in double parking. One would think that the obvious solution to poor performance in collection and enforcement is to improve the competence, skills, and capabilities of the personnel involved and if necessary, to change them for more competent staff. By pursuing a privatisation scheme, the effect is to acknowledge the incompetency of the present staff as being beyond redemption but these incompetent staff are rewarded by keeping their jobs and salaries without having to do any work, while the local council loses half of its revenue.
Public Interest: The third concern is the public interest and particularly the interest of the residents within the local council area. The revenue collected is meant for the well-being of the residents. It is not intended to allow private entities to make profits. Further the privatisation of enforcement powers for offences cannot be made a source of income which brings with it the dangers of abuse and corruption.
It is urged that both the Minister of Transport and the Selangor State Government address these concerns.
William Leong Jee Keen
Member of Parliament Selayang
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
