Royal Link In Selangor Parking Mp Urges Transparency From State Govt

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A PKR lawmaker has urged the Selangor government to issue an official explanation regarding a report linking a royalty figure to a company involved in the state’s initiative to private street parking.
Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung said a response from the state government is necessary to address questions over the "appropriateness" of any individual’s involvement, including members of the royal family, in the Selangor Intelligent Parking (SIP) scheme.
“I believe the proper avenue is for the state government to provide a full and official clarification.
“This is the best way to avoid misunderstandings and to ensure that no party, including the royal institution, is subjected to unnecessary assumptions,” he told Malaysiakini.
The parliamentarian was responding to queries based on Malaysiakini’s report detailing Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah’s 16.5 percent beneficial stake in Selmax Sdn Bhd, which has received three concessions thus far under the SIP.
Tengku Amir Shah’s stake
Based on Malaysiakini’s checks, the heir apparent of Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah holds the stake via two other holding companies: Tanah Perwira Sdn Bhd and Greyscale Holdings Sdn Bhd.
Incorporated in March last year, Tanah Perwira is a minority shareholder of Selmax, a subsidiary of Itmax System Bhd, with the listed company controlling 70 percent of Selmax’s three million shares.
Tanah Perwira’s RM100 issued share capital, in turn, is wholly owned by Greyscale Holdings - a three-year-old company in which Tengku Amir Shah owns a majority 55 percent slice.
The three local councils that have awarded concessions to Selmax for the management of the SIP system are the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), and the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS).
As of press time, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is the only local council under the current phase of the SIP which remains outside the arrangement with Selmax.
Under the concession agreement with Selmax, the local councils would each be compelled to share revenue from parking fees, monthly passes, two-hour zones, and compounds in a 50-40 percent split with the company, which is set to receive the bigger share.
The remaining 10 percent is intended to go to Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned unit of Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) (MBI) tasked with overseeing the SIP rollout.
Vital ‘not to speculate’
When asked for his response to the report, Lee said that it is vital not to “speculate or draw conclusions” without access to full and accurate information, noting that greater transparency would only serve to strengthen public trust.
“It is not about targeting any person or institution, but about ensuring good governance and protecting the public interest.
“Without transparency, it is impossible to fairly assess issues such as company structure, potential conflicts of interest, or any alleged links to members of the royal family,” he added.
Emphasising that transparency and due processes should be prioritised, regardless of who the stakeholders may be, Lee highlighted that at the moment, even “basic documents” related to the SIP scheme are not accessible.
Why reject?
Last month, Lee had questioned the Selangor government’s rejection of a resident’s request to access documents related to the SIP initiative.
Asserting he had received a complaint from the resident, Lee said then that the request made under the state’s Freedom of Information (State of Selangor) Enactment 2011 was denied on the grounds that the documents were deemed classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972.
PSM central committee member Gandipan Nantha GopalanPSM had earlier this month expressed similar criticisms, with the party’s central committee member Gandipan Nantha Gopalan questioning the nature of the information that would require “protection” under the OSA.
The SIP, prior to its launch, had faced strong backlash from Lee, other MPs, as well as residential and eco-sustainability groups.
8-month RFP
When contacted, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari’s press secretary, Jay Jay Denis, said he is “not in a position to respond to the alleged involvement of parties” reported by Malaysiakini.
However, he added that the proposal for the SIP took place over eight months, beginning in January 2025 and was conducted publicly through a request for proposal process headed by MBI.
He disclosed that while 26 companies had initially participated, only three were called back to present a detailed proposal.
“The company, which was ultimately picked by MBI, had a track record of already operating parking systems in Johor, and was also a publicly listed company.
“Selmax is the system operator responsible for increasing technological infrastructure and enforcement operations through their investment, without the local councils having to increase their expenditure for infrastructure or enforcement,” he added. - Mkini

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