BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) will increase parking rates beginning next year, which will see a 100 per cent increase from the original rates.
The new rates will take effect on Jan 1.
This follows the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) announcement of a 50 per cent increase in parking fees at designated locations on the island for Penang Smart Parking (PSP) users, set to take effect in March 2025.
Under the new MBSP revised rates, parking fees would increase from RM0.40 to RM0.60 for 30 minutes, RM0.80 to RM1.20 per hour hour, and RM6 to RM9 per day.
MBSP mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid said the current parking rates had been in effect since 1995, nearly 29 years.
"The implementation of the new rates involves a doubling of the original rate, from RM0.40 per hour to RM0.80 per hour, from RM3 per day to RM6 per day and from RM75 per month to RM150 per month.
"As for the rates for subscription parking, which is for special parking space rentals, there will be no change and it will remain at the existing rate of RM200 per space per month, which can still be enjoyed by the people of Seberang Prai, particularly business operators and companies running commercial activities," he told newsmen here today.
Baderul Amin said they had reviewed studied the trend of the public using the paid parking facilities, with most preferring to park for short periods based on the needs of their visit.
He said they took that into account and introduced a new rate for short-term parking, which is RM0.40 for half an hour.
He said the proposed increase in parking rates was based on a market study conducted by MBSP.
"The current parking rates is one of the lowest among the local authorities in Malaysia, and the new rates will be used for the maintenance of the parking system in Seberang Prai and to improve the quality of the parking system.
"The new rates is not intended to generate profit for MBSP but to make the parking system in Seberang Prai more efficient and beneficial to the people," he added, noting that the current collection from parking fees amounted to RM9 million.
According to Baderul Amin, the MBSP required approximately RM3 million for the replacement of batteries in the 22,000 parking spaces under the Penang Smart Parking that had expired.
He said they would also upgrade the remaining 2,000 parking spaces with camera devices in selected areas to ensure road safety for users.