Seven errant parking operators to be replaced

The Star - Jun 2, 2008 By LOOI SUE-CHERN

THE services of seven parking operators will be terminated by Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) after they are found to have cheated and over charged motorists of their parking fees.

The seven operators will be replaced next month after MPPP found them to have overcharged, issuing tickets for cars parked outside the parking lots, not issuing tickets according to the collection time and not wearing badges to identify themselves as authorised parking attendants.

MPPP councillor Tan Hun Wooi said the operators were identified when they conducted spot-checks around the island following public complaints.

He said all the operators involved were found to have violated their maximum demerit points to allow them to operate the business.

“The seven companies had accumulated demerit points of between 85 and 196,” he said.

The maximum demerit points allowed are 75.

Tan said MPPP was in the process of appointing new contractors via tenders to replace the errant operators.

“The selection process for the new operators is being held and the operators are expected to start next month.”

He said the current operators’ contracts, which lapsed in May, had not been renewed but the operators were allowed to continue operations on a monthly basis until replacements were found.

He also said motorists should take extra efforts to inspect their parking tickets and receipts to ensure they were not cheated by the unscrupulous operators.

Tan said this after officiating the third Penang Cheshire Agoonoree at Penang Cheshire Home at Babington Avenue on Saturday.

He said MPPP was also looking at introducing a new parking system for Penang starting March next year.

“Among the systems proposed are the coupon system, prepaid scan system and automatic ticket system like the one in Petaling Jaya,” he said.