Langkah P Pinang gantung ANPR wajar, kata aktivis

Two Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) vehicles were deployed in Penang to monitor parking violations and issue fines (Picture MBPP). The Malaysian state government's decision to halt the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system's fine issuance is deemed justified to protect road user interests, asserts Hisham Shafie, founder of the National Road Users' Welfare Association (PPJK).

The move allows the state government to reassess the effectiveness and method of ANPR implementation before proceeding further. Shafie believes the review should consider the system's technical limitations, real-world conditions on the ground, and the interests of road users to avoid the implementation appearing solely driven by fine earnings.

"Even though employing advanced technology is justified for enhancing enforcement efficiency, an overly aggressive implementation without considering field reality only causes public anxiety and anger." Shafie told FMT. The following day, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow instructed Penang Municipal Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) to suspend ANPR fine issuance to allow a re-evaluation.

The decision, he said, came after the state government sought feedback and public opinion on the implementation of the system. Meanwhile, Hisham, a road user activist, argues that the system's reflective number plate detection mechanism before users complete payment through smart parking apps, along with internet connectivity issues in some areas, indicates that the local authorities (PBT) should not solely rely on the ANPR system to determine a parking violation.

Each violation detected by the system should be manually verified by enforcement officers to confirm the actual situation before a fine is issued, he asserts.