adminGEORGE TOWN: Penang has cancelled 27,734 compounds related to the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system with RM203,170 refunded to users following the discontinuation of the system.
State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee Chairman, H’ng Mooi Lye said that of the total number of compounds cancelled, 27,485 involved the Penang City Council (MBPP), while another 249 were issued by the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP).
“A total of 6,470 compounds have been settled, comprising 6,441 compounds under MBPP with RM202,435 refunded to consumers, and 29 compounds under MBSP with a refund of RM735,” he said in a written reply at the Penang State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
He was answering a question from Lee Khai Loon (PH-Machang Bubuk) on the cost of implementing ANPR, lessons learned from the system’s controversy, as well as the number of compounds cancelled and refunds to users.
Last August, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that MBPP and MBSP would stop using the ANPR system to issue compounds with immediate effect to allow for its implementation to be reviewed after the state government took feedback and views from the people.
Previously, MBPP Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran was reported to have said that the use of ANPR which began on April 24 last year saw his department issuing an average of about 7,000 compounds each month for various parking offences.
H’ng said that no costs were borne by the council due to its implementation, which was included within the scope of the existing contract between MBPP and MBSP with the HeiTech Padu (HTP) company, and all costs related to the implementation of the system were borne entirely by HTP.
— BERNAMA
