Akmal Azhar
Penang, 24 April 2025 — Penang today rolled out a state‑wide Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system designed to detect unpaid parking in real time and issue fines instantly, marking a major milestone in the state’s smart‑city ambitions.
At a launch ceremony held at the Seberang Perai City Council office, State Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye described the initiative as “a shift in how we manage urban parking with smart enforcement, full digitalisation, and a commitment to the environment with fewer paper compounds.”
Under the new arrangement, each of Penang’s two local authorities—the Penang Island City Council and the Seberang Perai City Council—will deploy five ANPR camera units at strategic locations across council‑managed parking lots. As vehicles enter and exit, the cameras scan licence plates and cross‑reference them against the Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) database. Any motorist who has not paid for parking will immediately receive a compound notification via the Penang Smart Parking app, which remains the sole payment channel for council lots.
Officials estimate that automating plate scanning could reduce the manpower required for parking patrols by up to 60 per cent, freeing officers to focus on other urban management tasks and cutting labour costs.
“The integrated system not only streamlines enforcement but also lays the groundwork for future real‑time data applications in Penang’s municipal governance,” H’ng added.
The ANPR rollout is part of Penang’s broader push to digitise public services, improve compliance with regulations, and reduce environmental impact through paperless processes. Authorities say the system will be monitored closely over the coming months, with the possibility of further enhancements—including expansion to on‑street parking zones—if the pilot phase proves successful.
Zakirin
Yusri Ng
