(Ipoh, Wednesday): On the 6^th of May 06, at a news conference, I questioned of the Majlis Bandarraya Ipoh, secret proposal to replace the present coin meters to the new coupon parking system. At the MBI web site on this matter I raised the MBI said this “maklumbalas kiv” In normal situations the MBI sould have given an explanation or refute my claims but this was not the case.

In today’s papers, we are now given to understand by the State Urban and Local Government Committee Chairman Datuk Chang that the decision would be made on the present system of coin meters currently in use which are damaged by vandalism and theft. To overcome this problem the installation of CCTV would address it. In any case wrong doers ought to be caught and what better way then to catch them on CCTV!

What we are concerned is; would all the present 5000 odd coin meters be replaced? Some of these parking meters were only installed in 2004 at the costs of RM34, 000 a meter. Even the warranty period for these meters has not expired. In fact RM 6.38 million were spent to install 200 of the Australian made Reino meters in 2002-2003. Have we recovered the amount of monies spent to buy these meters? Why the rush to replace with a new system. The DBI must be mindful of the payer’s rate monies it’s going to spend.  

 Why should Dato Chang be speaking on behalf of the DBI on the proposed new coupon system? Where have all the appointed local councilors gone? Why are they quiet? The local councilors should get down to the ground and get the views of the payers rate of Ipoh and then raise the necessary back feed at the council board meeting.

Presently the cost of parking per minute is 1sen. But under the proposed coupon system the suggested levy is 40 sen per 30 minute which works out be 1.3 sen per minute. Why this increase? An increase of 30%. But for 60 minutes it’s 60 sen, which is the normal rate. Thus the payers rate would be forced to use the 1hr instead of the ˝ hr as works out cheaper. Is this a quick way to increase the revenue of DBI so that it could spend lavishly?  

For the 14 local councils in Perak we have differed parking meter system. There is an urgent need to regularize the present chaotic system so that we have a single and uniform system of parking meters in Perak.

Also the Cabinet in 2002 had made a decision not to allow the purchase of parking meters from overseas. This has not been followed by many local of council in Perak. Necessary action should be taken against these local councils.

Also, an open tender system must be practiced when any items are bought by  locals councils. Presently a negotiated tender system is practiced which leads to abuse and corruption.

We suggest the DBI organize an open discussion by having an open forum on this issue soonest possible. The views and suggestion of the people are necessary for the democratic process. Was the decision to install the coupon system ever discussed by the local councils?