LETTER | Following the announcement by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow that the use of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system for the enforcement of parking offences along roadsides and in public places should be suspended pending a review of the system, we demand that all compounds issued through ANPR enforcement be cancelled in full, without requiring affected individuals to submit separate appeals.

The fact that a review of the ANPR enforcement method is now considered necessary indicates that the manner in which it has been implemented may have implications for the validity and propriety of the compounds previously issued through the ANPR system.

Questions also arise as to the manner in which such compounds were issued.

This includes whether the service or delivery of compound notices through the Penang Smart Parking application complies with the requirements under Penang Island City Council’s (MBPP) existing Road Transport (Parking Places) Order.

All Penang residents should be given the benefit of the doubt in view of the reasonable legal uncertainties surrounding the matter, particularly when MBPP may require a longer period of time to comprehensively review the ANPR enforcement method.

MBPP must act fairly and give due consideration to the complaints and grievances of the public, who have expressed considerable dissatisfaction with the manner in which ANPR enforcement has been carried out.

Problems with application?

A substantial part of these problems has also been contributed by the Penang Smart Parking application, which has proven to be anything but “smart”.

At the same time, I also call upon MBPP to review the effectiveness and reliability of the Penang Smart Parking application, which has frequently caused various disruptions and problems.

All issues involving the Penang Smart Parking application and the implementation of ANPR enforcement should be given serious attention and included within the scope of the forthcoming review.

The findings of the review should also be made public, including full details of all expenditure incurred in the implementation of the ANPR enforcement system.

Writer is a former MP for Tanjong.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of VoxPop.