Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya, Lee Khai Loon, announced that he will be contacting Selangor state backbenchers to initiate a signature petition, urging the Selangor state government to postpone, and to review the Selangor Smart Parking System (SIP) plan with transparency, professionalism, and openness.
Recently, Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin said that currently only the Petaling Jaya City Council opposes the Selangor Smart Parking System. Lee Khai Loon pointed out that while this is correct, it is not the whole picture.
“I have noticed that the stance of the Selangor backbenchers on this issue is still absent, which is puzzling.”
Lee Khai Loon issued a statement on Facebook on Friday, stating that at the local government level, the Petaling Jaya City Council has already submitted a written objection.
“Why haven’t other city councils and mayors (or municipal councils and chairpersons) raised objections? Because the mayors are all civil servants appointed by the state government. To oppose? That’s inconvenient!”
“So why haven’t the councillors raised objections? Up to now, the vast majority of councillors are also appointed by the state government, and their appointments will expire at the end of this year. Most councillors hope to be reappointed. Therefore, although they express concerns privately, to publicly object? That risks their jobs.”
Lee continued, saying that it is already not easy and deserving of applause that the Petaling Jaya City Council could hold out and bravely submit a written objection.
“But there is an even more important voice, namely the voice that represents the people.”
“The fact is, at least four MPs from four local governments have already expressed a wish to review and postpone this.”
He said these four MPs are himself from Petaling Jaya, Lee Chean Chung from Selayang, Azli from Shah Alam, and Wong Chen from Subang. The four local governments implementing the system are the Petaling Jaya City Council, Selayang Municipal Council, Shah Alam City Council, and Subang Jaya City Council.
He emphasized that MPs’ authority comes from the people, and our country spends hundreds of millions every four to five years to hold general elections, for no reason other than to reflect public opinion—while also reflecting it in governance.
He said that MPs have an unshirkable duty to voice and fight for “the expectations and rights of the majority.”
“Therefore, compared to the opinions of civil servants and appointed councillors, the views of elected representatives must not be ignored.”