The Perlis government has announced that the state will not proceed with the implementation of a barrier-based parking system, opting instead for a smarter and more convenient payment mechanism.
The decision comes after the state government considered feedback from various parties, including the Kangar Municipal Council (MP Kangar), to ensure the comfort and convenience of residents who park their vehicles and make payments.
Perlis Chief Minister Abu Bakar Hamzah said that the previous plan to introduce a barrier-based parking system had sparked controversy, particularly regarding the payment methods, which were viewed as not user-friendly and had caused congestion.
“The resolution made by the state government is that parking with designated fees will continue in Perlis, but it will be implemented without barriers and managed by MP Kangar and the relevant parking operators,” he said.
He added that the decision takes into account the welfare of the people and the state, and follows consultations with various stakeholders before making the announcement.
“We understand that some residents were dissatisfied with the previous barrier-based parking system. This new approach serves as a ‘middle ground’ that benefits all parties,” he said after chairing the Perlis State Executive Council meeting at Kompleks Seri Putra last night.
Also present were the state executive council members and State Secretary Datuk Rahimi Ismail.
Abu Bakar noted that the upcoming smart parking system will consider priority locations and local needs, and will not be implemented in residential areas.
“Existing facilities such as CCTV will still be used for monitoring and security purposes. In addition, engagement with the community will take place through dialogues and townhall sessions to gather feedback on the smart parking system,” he said.
The parking system, which began operations in mid-June last year, was suspended until the end of last year for review. The move followed public complaints regarding payment convenience and overall user experience, which had become a topic of discussion and forums among various stakeholders in the state.
