Sibu: DAP Sarawak state committee member Stanley Chiew has urged the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to adopt a more humane and people-oriented approach as it prepares to enforce action against individuals with outstanding parking summonses from 1 July 2026, including possible court prosecution.
While acknowledging the council’s efforts to improve enforcement and recover unpaid fines, Chiew said SMC should also introduce practical mechanisms to help the public resolve long-standing summonses fairly and reasonably.
He proposed several measures, including offering discounts or settlement schemes for old summonses, allowing payment by instalments, establishing an appeal and review mechanism, temporarily suspending prosecution for disputed cases, and encouraging voluntary settlement of outstanding fines before resorting to legal action.
According to Chiew, SMC has accumulated RM10,113,060 in unpaid traffic fines as of 2024. He noted that many of the summonses being pursued date back several years to a period when records were still largely processed manually.
“As a result, some members of the public are understandably concerned about possible data inaccuracies, including input errors or cases involving vehicles that have already changed ownership,” he said.
Chiew revealed that he has received numerous inquiries from residents regarding liability for outstanding summonses when the original vehicle owner has passed away and ownership has since been transferred to family members.
“Many people are asking whether the responsibility for settling these fines falls on the deceased owner’s estate or the new registered owner. I hope the Sibu Municipal Council can provide clear clarification on this issue,” he said.
He acknowledged that the council’s adoption of a smart parking system has enhanced administrative efficiency and enabled authorities to trace older summonses more effectively. However, he stressed that the existence of records in the system does not automatically mean all cases are free from dispute.
“The council has a responsibility to provide reasonable channels for appeal and review rather than immediately threatening court action,” he said.
Chiew added that if some summonses are decades old and motorists were not adequately notified at the time, questions regarding the fairness and reasonableness of the enforcement process are inevitable.
He further pointed out that some vehicle owners may have relocated or completed ownership transfers long ago, making it important for the council to thoroughly review individual cases before commencing legal proceedings.
“Taking legal action without first verifying the circumstances could lead to unnecessary disputes and public dissatisfaction,” he said.
Chiew also reminded the council of a previous incident involving parking fee collection, where changes to parking fee timings were not promptly reflected on signage, resulting in motorists unknowingly receiving summonses.
“This shows that while enforcement is important, the council must also strengthen administrative management and improve transparency in communicating information to the public,” he said.
He emphasized that most people are not unwilling to pay legitimate fines but expect enforcement measures to be accompanied by procedural fairness and reasonable opportunities to resolve disputes.
“The public wants assurance that the enforcement process is just and that there is sufficient room for explanation, review and appeal,” he said.
In addition, Chiew called on SMC councillors to lead by example by publicly disclosing their own outstanding and settled parking violation fines.
“Only when councillors themselves demonstrate transparency and accountability will the public be more willing to accept and support stricter enforcement measures,” he said.
To facilitate compliance, Chiew suggested that the council establish mobile service counters where residents can check outstanding summonses on the spot and consult directly with relevant officers on available solutions.
He stressed that local authorities should not focus solely on enforcement but also embrace a spirit of public service and problem-solving.
“If the council can strike a balance between effective enforcement and public welfare, it will earn greater understanding, trust and cooperation from the people,” he said.
