Selangor MCA deputy chairman and urban affairs bureau head Tan Gim Tuan said any arrangement involving public land must be subject to public scrutiny.

He urged the state government to explain the full terms of the deal, and how it will benefit the public.

“They must explain in detail whether such a deal exists, the terms and conditions, and how the deal benefits the people,” he said.

According to state executive councillor Ng Suee Lim, the concession for a “smart parking system” covering collections of parking fees and enforcement will involve local councils, state-owned Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd and a private company.

Ng said enforcement would be carried out by local council officers, with Rantaian Mesra to act as a system coordinator. The private company, which has yet to be appointed, will handle the four local councils’ daily parking operations.

He said Rantaian Mesra and the other company are expected to invest around RM200 million to develop the infrastructure for the smart parking system.

Tan said the principle of public consultation was officially introduced when Petaling Jaya was granted city status in 2006, and must now be applied consistently across Selangor.

He pointed out that city councillors in Selangor are political appointees representing parties in the state government, and therefore have a responsibility to serve the interests of ratepayers and not just private entities.

He also said full transparency is needed to prevent any third party from making profits at the expense of ratepayers.

The four local councils involved in the first phase of the scheme are the Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, and Shah Alam city councils and the Selayang municipal council.