Stock Answers To Simple Questions On Privatised Parking

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“Muzhu poosanikkaya sothula maraika mudiathu.” (You can never hide a whole pumpkin in a heap of cooked rice.)
- Tamil proverb
On June 24, a group of enforcement officers from the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) were summoned to a conference room for what they described as “Coordination Meeting on Parking Enforcement in MBSJ area by Selmax Sdn Bhd”.
A Facebook post by the MBSJ Enforcement Department read: “The meeting was chaired by the assistant director of MBSJ’s Enforcement Department and attended by representatives from concessionaire company Selmax Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of ITMAX System Berhad).
ADS“The meeting presented the proposed parking enforcement operation to be carried out by Selmax, scheduled to begin on July 1, 2025, under the supervision of the local authority.
“It also involved coordinating ad hoc enforcement duties, including official council events, sports activities, state-level parades in Selangor, and disaster management.
“The goal is to standardise the standard operating procedures (SOPs), scope of duties, and enforcement actions related to parking, while employing monitoring systems, reporting mechanisms, and more efficient and effective enforcement strategies.”
More questions than answers
Yesterday, however, at a media conference, the Selangor Local Government and Tourism executive councillor, Ng Suee Lim, who, after dismissing claims that a concessionaire had been appointed to take over parking in four local councils in the state, could only answer “nothing has been finalised”.
If no appointment had been made, how and why was the meeting called, and by whom?
If a private company can walk into the MBSJ and hold a meeting with the enforcement officers, wouldn’t they be trespassers?
Ng and Mentri Besar Inc (MBI) Selangor general manager Ramali Abu Bakar, who was seated next, could only look on in surprise.
The answer did not require putting on the thinking cap - it was one that our political leaders often give - “we will look into it.”
They disavowed any involvement of the state or MBI in the meeting, and rightfully, the question was: Can anyone walk into a local council meeting and summon the enforcement officers for a meeting?
Was it legal? A “yes” or “no” answer was sought, but those exact few words - “we will look into it” came to their rescue.
Both refused to confirm or deny the existence of any agreement, singing the same tune - nothing has been finalised.
Ng Suee LimADSWhen photographs were presented and asked to establish if any state officials were present, those five words were repeated.
By that time, one of Ng’s officers had taken them for verification and returned in silence. Silence again.
What about MBSJ’s note that “the proposed parking enforcement operation to be carried out by Selmax, under the supervision of the local authority”?
Would enforcement officers be acting as mandore (supervisor) while the concessionaire issues parking tickets?
“We will look into it”.
Did they hear the loud voices of objection from residents’ associations, MPs, and civic societies?
Some of them were against, Ng said, but others voiced support.
What about the revenue-sharing agreement? Are the councils satisfied with the arrangements, especially given the drastic drop in income?
Ng said the state had engaged with the councillors of the four authorities, but did not provide details.
‘We will look into it’
However, the only consolation the stakeholders - the residents - can take is an announcement by Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari earlier yesterday morning, promising to review the concerns raised over outsourcing the collection of parking fees.
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari“I will look into this again since the issue has been brought up,” he said.
Yes, those magic words again!
No one knows how long they need to look into it, but Aug 1 is just two weeks away.
Will they review the decision to privatise and listen to the voices of the people? Or will they bulldoze it through because certain commitments have already been made?
The Facebook post revealed many details that had been kept from the public. Yes, this is the trait of a government elected on the premise of “transparency and accountability”.
What more surprises and about turns can we expect? We are living in interesting times, and there will be more twists and turns.
Watch this space. - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who strives to uphold the ethos of civil rights leader John Lewis: “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” Comments: [email protected]
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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