Charge non-Penang vehicles to overcome congestion, rep says

Looi Sue-Chern Looi Sue-Chern Updated 7 years ago · Published on 13 Nov 2018 1:59PM · 7 Comments

Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong suggests that the government charge vehicles from out of state a fee to reduce traffic congestion in Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic, November 13, 2018.

A BANKBENCHER in Penang has suggested to charge outstation vehicles entering the state a fee to reduce traffic congestion.

Jason Ong Khan Lee (PH-Kebun Bunga) said the move could help mitigate worsening congestion in Penang.

“I would like to propose that a charge be imposed on all vehicles that are not registered in Penang.

“This will encourage more people who come to Penang to use public transport.

The move will also help reduce the number of vehicles entering Penang,” he said debating the state’s Budget 2019 today.

Penang, especially the island, has been battling worsening traffic congestion in recent years.

The traffic problem in the state, which is also a popular tourist destination, is often at its worst during holiday seasons, long weekends and festive celebrations.

“Compared to 10 years ago when we had only about 300,000 vehicles, Penang now records one million vehicles. Let’s move people, not cars,” Ong said.

He also urged the state government to have political will to tackle problems with illegal roadside hawkers and parking.

Meanwhile, in relation to fatal landslides at construction sites this year and last year in Bukit Kukus and Tanjung Bungah, Ong also proposed that the state suggested to Putrajaya to set up a Civil and Geotechnical Engineering Commission.

He said the commission – to be headed by a building surveyor and consisting of civil engineers and professionals dealing with stop work orders, and mitigation and rectification works – should report to the Dewan Rakyat or the state legislative assemblies.

“This commission should also write up guidelines, the standard operation procedures and other criteria for environmental, social and traffic impact assessments, and other requirements.

“The commission should also be equipped with Geographical Information System to prepare the Landslide and Flood Hazard Mapping,” he said.

The Bukit Kukus landslide at a road construction site on October 19 this year killed nine foreign workers while the landslide at a Tanjung Bungah apartment construction site in October last year killed 11 workers. – November 13, 2018.

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Comments

  • What a shallow reasoning. How do ypu know that they are outstation tourists ??What about those who work in other nearby states but have to commute daily or those who have houses to come back on weekend . You going charge them a fees too.??? Could they charge you for not dilligent in your work by not creating more jobs ???? for they do not have to migrate to other states and seek for work!!!!. Car plates number can be bought from different states if they are available to the numbers preferred. You have diffrent cars plate in Penang but actuall staying in Penang either due to buying the car second hand or buying the numbers. How are you going handle that ??? Bangang betul. Trying to seek publicity but otak tak ada. Is your public transport ready and fully facilitated to public. Wasted allocating you a seat in the assembly.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • Let me ask you this, if draw in parallel with your argument with the recent budget, then wouldn't you will be disagreeing with our finance minister's idea of RM100/month monthly pass on LRT/MRT for the local sounds stupid bla bla bla. but instead you will come out with the idea that its you can filter the system of registration against foreigner bla bla bla..

      likewise to this instances/contention, i think you are not so well-verse on how the system works, with the current advance tech by police and JPJ, camera tracking systems are easily available for us to detect car plates the registered addressee even if the plate is registered as "P". the purpose of the this statement draw in line with the slogan "move people, not cars" with the alternative like grab, enhancement of public transport etc
      In Singapore/Seoul, Korea, local cars will have to pay toll or levy if the car is less than 3 persons.

      Study has to be conducted, measure will be taken. system of filtering/registration will be taken into account, at least the TOUCHNGO works and save a bucks for Penangnites, that's one example, besides it is for tourist, if you wanna talk about the worker why not include their workplace as registration? easy

      but yea people like you will agree on building more roads but not management of the traffic which ultimately creating more congestion anyway. Look whos the shallow one.. o.O

      Posted 7 years ago by Wai keong wee · Reply

    • Wow!!! now we have a apologist an a attack dog for Kebun Bunga. Good !! that shall stirr up my defense and rebuke mechanism. First of all I do very well support the ideas of MOF in their RM100/ monthly pass as the pros outweight the cons and also it will enhance the existing public transport that have been invested heavily to make it tick. You can argue on the fact that it is similar in approach to the proposed charges for outstaion cars entering Penang BUT hold your horses for Penang is Penang and not KL or Singapore or Seoul or even any cities thats operate on levy to dissuade heavy traffic , plese be minfull when you talk for we know that the established big cities, infrastructiure are well laid to facilitate the implementaions. It is much more easier too to track applicants on the RM100/ monthly pass with whatever software that is existing in the National Registration Institution, PDRM , Immigration or whatever that is info available on them. Here we are seeing a willing applicants to ensure that they enjoys their benefits of needs. True the filtering may not be 100% perfect but what the heck if it suffice and do not rob the country of economical revenue. Anyway not many foreigners are daily commuters. No No No !!! I do not support heavy traffic but if the building of new roads do help to elevate off the concerns so be it, has to be done !!! Period ... . When hungary why spite off the delicious fried koay teow just because of calories. Absurd isn't it !!!. True I might not be that savy in the tracking soft ware or how the system is going to work but I for sure do know that implementing this system without understanding in totality of the whole schematic work out is just inviting problems. General perceptions is that Penang now have yet to reslove many of the the hill slopes developement issue and always falls back in pointing fingers for others to take the blame. This has shown no committment and the responsibility to be accountable. It is now 2018 and already ten years after capturing it in 2008. There is no more BN or Koh tsu koon to take the rap. Even the MTP are already facing intense resistance in acceptance from the locals. So tell me adding unneccessary system without full failure mode analysis are you sure it will help to diffuse out the congested traffic or is it that not enough of proper city planning evaluations carry out on what is needed be it additional roads or enlargement of bottleneck or even additional layout elevated roadway in the city itself which will help to sustain any growing traffics for years to come. Initial cost could be high but negate it by extrapolating it to the number of years intended would be justifying. Cars may cause the traffic woes but it is not just the problem. Again be mindfull of the fact that Penang is banging on tourism for high revenue. It is a known fact that the local outstation tourist constitute the high turn out on holidays and weekends.( I know that for a fact because I am a Penang lang and going back often with my outstaion car plates of Perak ). Sure enough you do not want deterent to piss off their stinct of short holidays and being penalised for their easy and quick movement. As per to your slogan "move people and not cars" are now not moving anywhere. I am not against good implementation of system but please lah do not emulate blindly and making noise for the sake of noise making. Get it all sorted out with all infrastructure in place. I am not asking to reinvent the wheel but have indepth analysis prior to disposal. Even the system implemneted in other countries do have on going concerns that needs constant rectifying. Atta mate !!!!!

      Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • Counting on police and JPJ? The mess nationwide is precisely because both have failed the people in terms of ENFORCEMENT part of their job. People park indiscrimimately and beat the traffic rules with impunity because they know 9/10 times they will get away with it.

      The other time they get a saman, they dont pay up but wait for 80% discount promo!!! WtF

      Posted 7 years ago by Arshad Lazim · Reply

  • That is a stupid idea made without thinking before speaking, the mouth has moved before the brain has a chance to work. How are you going to ascertain whether the car is from outside Penang? Many cars with Penang plates are owned by people living outside Penang and many Penang residents own cars registered in other states. The rakyat must be bitterly disappointed with the caliber and intellect of this assemblyman who would be better off as a vegetable seller. That would even insult the intelligence of the vegetable seller.

    Posted 7 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

    • I am for him because of the traffic congestion, with the current advance tech by police and JPJ, camera tracking systems are easily available for us to detect car plates the registered addressee even if the plate is registered as "P". He further submit that the surcharge the tourist should replace the toll impose to the everyone. of course evidently he is not as smart as you seeing that you could propose a better idea yea.

      Posted 7 years ago by Wai keong wee · Reply

  • Stupidity has a new name.

    Posted 7 years ago by Arshad Lazim · Reply