PH MPs Criticise SIP Scheme for Favouring Private Interests

Four Pakatan Harapan MPs, Lee Chean Chung (Petaling Jaya), William Leong (Selayang), Azli Yusof (Shah Alam), and Wong Chen (Subang) are calling on the Selangor state government to delay the privatisation of public parking lots under the Selangor Intelligent Parking (SIP) scheme.

Lee, speaking on behalf of the group, said the current proposal raises serious legal, commercial, and operational concerns. He called for an independent review committee and full public disclosure of the scheme’s terms, especially its commercial arrangements.

From the limited information available, Lee warned that the scheme appears tilted toward private interests, potentially sidelining local authorities and the public good.

The MPs said the scheme directly affects their constituencies and questioned whether it had received the necessary approval from the Transport Ministry, as public parking falls under federal jurisdiction.

The first phase of the SIP rollout covers four local councils: MBPJ, MBSJ, MBSA, and MPS. While enforcement remains the councils’ responsibility, the concessionaire will manage staff salaries and emoluments.

Lee expressed concern that local councils were excluded from key decisions. He also criticised the proposed revenue-sharing model where 50% goes to the private company, 10% to the Selangor State Investment Centre (MBI), and just 40% to the councils, calling it lopsided and lacking in transparency.

He argued that public parking should be treated as a public service rather than a profit-making venture.

The MPs urged the state to rethink the scheme entirely, saying focus should shift to improving urban mobility which includes more strategic parking allocation, better integration with public transport, and walkable city planning.

Responding to the criticism, Selangor local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said the SIP agreement is not final, and the planned Aug 1 launch could be postponed for further refinement.